LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Ministerial Travel

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Leader of the House what the total cost was of his journey to and from the North East on 11 October.

Peter Hain: None.

WALES

Priority Homelessness

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the level of priority homelessness in Wales was in each year from 1993 to the establishment of the Welsh Assembly.

Don Touhig: Priority homelessness in Wales between 1993 and 1999 was as follows:
	
		Households accepted as eligible unintentionally homelessnessand in priority need
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1993 7,757 
			 1994 6,956 
			 1995 5,811 
			 1996 5,648 
			 1997 4,297 
			 1998 4,371 
			 1999 3,695 
		
	
	Source:
	Welsh Office/Welsh Assembly WHO12 returns.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what (a) weight and (b) volume of waste has been collected for each year since 1990; and what percentage has been (i) recycled, (ii) landfilled, (iii) incinerated and (iv) otherwise disposed of.

Archy Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 13 October 2004, Official Report, columns 274–75W
	Waste from the parliamentary estate is recorded by weight, not volume. Since 1998 all our waste has been either recycled, or recovered by incineration to generate electricity. Statistics were not kept before April 2002.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Funding

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the arts in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) the City of York have received in Government grants in each year since 1997.

Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not fund the arts directly, but through Arts Council England, who are responsible for distributing public money from Government.
	The following table supplied by Arts Council England provides a breakdown of the information requested.
	
		£
		
			  Yorkshire and the Humber York 
			  Grant in aid Lottery Grant in aid Lottery 
		
		
			 1997–98 13,352,100 13,933,000 806,072 86,000 
			 1998–99 13,561,600 7,889,000 772,144 119,000 
			 1999–2000 15,387,400 11,814,000 857,587 327,000 
			 2000–01 17,859,200 5,203,000 (1)1,032,613 104,000 
			 2001–02 20,181,100 4,381,000 (1)1,066,277 210,000 
			 2002–03 21,110,438 12,425,000 686,136 65,000 
			 2003–04 25,151,582 5,739,000 990,994 510,000 
		
	
	(1) Due to restructuring grant in aid allocated by the former Arts Council of England was not broken down by local authority in these years. Regional grants (i.e. to Yorkshire and the Humber) were apportioned across local authorities according to population.

British Grand Prix

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with Mr. Bernie Ecclestone over the future of the British Grand Prix.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with Bernie Ecclestone concerning the recent negotiations over the future of the British Grand Prix.
	The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) are currently leading discussions about the future of the British Grand Prix for the Government.

British Grand Prix

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the consortium headed by Mr. Nigel Mansell on the future of the British Grand Prix.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the consortium headed by Nigel Mansell over the future of the British Grand Prix.
	The ongoing negotiations over the future of the British Grand Prix are a matter between the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) and the Formula One Management (FOM).

British Grand Prix

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guarantees were obtained by the Government over the future of the British Grand Prix from the organisers of Formula One when improvements to transport links were made in 2002.

Richard Caborn: The improvements made to the transport links in 2002 were part of a long-term transport planning strategy of benefit to a range of events at Silverstone. Events that have benefited include the Walter Hayes Trophy, the 500 Summer Races and the Historic Sportscar Championships—all run by the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC).
	In order to support the retention of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Department for Transport provided additional funding of £8 million to speed up improvements to the A43 Silverstone bypass to allow better road access in time for the July 2002 British Grand Prix.
	At the time, it would have been inappropriate for the Government to obtain any guarantees over the future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This was a commercial matter between the (BRDC), Octagon (the race organisers at the time) and Formula One Management.
	The above-mentioned events held at Silverstone continue to benefit from the transport improvements made in 2002.

Children's Play

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when she expects to respond to the report Getting Serious about Play: A Review of Children's Play published by the committee chaired by the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson);
	(2)  what plans her Department has made for distribution of the £200 million of national lottery funding earmarked for new and improved children's play facilities.

Estelle Morris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to be in a position to respond to the "Getting serious about play" review in the near future.

Culture (Definition)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition her Department uses of British culture.

Estelle Morris: What encompasses British culture is diverse and constantly developing and is not something that can easily be put in a simple definition. However the cultural work of DCMS encompasses architecture and the historic environment, the Royal Parks and Royal Palaces, the performing and visual arts, museums, galleries, libraries and archives, creative industries and tourism.
	I agree with the definition of the foundations of Britishness suggested by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in this year's British Council Annual Lecture. He described them as
	'a passion for liberty anchored in a sense of duty and an intrinsic commitment to tolerance and fair play'.

Departmental Consultants

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Department spent on outside information technology and communication specialists, consultants and engineers in the 2003–04 financial year.

Richard Caborn: DCMS outsources all its IT provision, IT consultancy and engineering work.
	In 2003–04 SchlumbergerSema (Atos Origin from January 2004) provided a full IT service for DCMS including IT specialists, software and hardware, consultancy and procurement. The costs for each are not separated out for accounting purposes. The total cost for IT provision, services, consultancy and procurement by SchlumbergerSema /Atos Origin was £3,576,737.
	In addition IT security consultancy provided by Syntegra was £102,681.
	The cost of engineers, JC Communications, was £19,211.

Historic Sites (England)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost to public funds has been of overseas education programmes at historic sites in England in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: There is no cost to public funds of overseas education programmes at historic sights in England. English Heritage and Historic Royal Palaces offer a wide range of educational activities and facilities, which are available to all. They will, if requested, make special arrangements for overseas groups but have no dedicated programmes for overseas students.

Tourism (Yorkshire)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) visitors from abroad and (b) UK tourists visited (i) York and (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 1997; and how much they spent.

Richard Caborn: The available statistics on visits to and expenditure in Yorkshire and the Humber since 1997 are shown in the table. Statistics are only available on visits that included a stay of at least one night.
	
		
			  Visitors from abroad UK tourists(2) 
			  Visits (thousand) Expenditure (£ million) Visits (thousand) Expenditure (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997 947 304 n/a n/a 
			 1998 925 286 n/a n/a 
			 1999 874 240 n/a n/a 
			 2000 918 259 13,100 1,691 
			 2001 803 262 11,000 1,452 
			 2002 862 303 12,200 1,595 
			 2003 916 294 13,100 1,930 
		
	
	(2) Regional data from the UK Tourism Survey is only available back to the start of 2000 due to a significant change in the survey methodology in 1999.
	Sources:
	International Passenger Survey, UK Tourism Survey.
	Statistics on visits to and expenditure in York are only available for visitors from abroad and are shown in the table.
	
		Visitors from abroad
		
			  Visits (thousand) Expenditure (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997 328 56 
			 1998 314 56 
			 1999 274 50 
			 2000 308 57 
			 2001 242 71 
			 2002 230 62 
			 2003 214 51 
		
	
	Source:
	International Passenger Survey.

Tourism (Yorkshire)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Government funding the Yorkshire Tourism Bureau received in each year since 1994.

Richard Caborn: The York Tourism Bureau is a non-profit making organisation funded by the private sector.
	In 2003–04, funding of approximately £710,000 passed from the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward, to Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB). Prior to this, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport provided grant in aid to the English Tourism Council (ETC) between 1994–95 and 2002–03. Grant in aid was paid by the ETC to the Yorkshire Tourist Board as shown in the following table. Unfortunately, figures for 1994–95 are not available:
	
		
			  Grant in aid (£) 
		
		
			 1995–96 431 
			 1996–97 766 
			 1997–98 506 
			 1998–99 513 
			 1999–2000 469 
			 2000–01 563 
			 2001–02 730 
			 2002–03 655

HOME DEPARTMENT

Domestic Violence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and domestic violence.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	No such specific research has been commissioned.

Fixed Penalty Fines

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for British citizens living in Northern Ireland, holding a driving licence issued in Northern Ireland, to be able to pay fixed penalty fines for driving offences occurring in Great Britain without having to appear in court in Great Britain for prosecution.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	On 11 October the necessary legislation to provide for fixed penalty fines issued in Great Britain to Northern Ireland licence holders was commenced. This was part of a package of legislation that also provides for the recognition of driving disqualifications between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the ability to revoke Northern Ireland licences in Great Britain on medical grounds. The provisions match those commenced in Northern Ireland on 11 October.

MOT Certificates

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were of drivers within the Greater London area who did not have a current MOT certificate for the motor vehicle they were driving in each of the last three years.

Caroline Flint: The Home Office Court Proceedings Database cannot separately identify the specific offence of driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate. The table shows total proceedings for all vehicle test offences. Data for 2003 are expected to be published in early 2005.
	
		Proceedings at magistrates courts for vehicle test offences(3)within Greater London(4), 2000–02
		
			  Total proceedings 
		
		
			 2000 20,105 
			 2001 19,623 
			 2002 21,508 
		
	
	(3) Offences aiding, abetting, causing or permitting vehicle test offences (except fraud) under the Road Traffic Act 1988 ss. 47(1), 51(2), 53(1)—(3), 63(1), 63(2), 67(9), 76(8), 165(3) and175; Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles Act 1972 s.3(1) (c); Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 Regs. 70 and 73.
	(4) The Metropolitan and City of London police combined.

Secure Training Centres

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff injuries sustained during training in physical restraint techniques at secure training centres have been recorded in the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Secure training centre operators record that there have been 17 staff injuries during training.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Emissions

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will undertake an assessment of the proposed emission levels at the Quinn Glass factory in Ince, Cheshire.

Margaret Beckett: An application has been made by the Quinn Glass factory for a permit under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. The local authority, Chester city council, is determining it in the usual way and if it grants a permit it will include conditions which represent the Best Available Techniques, including any appropriate emission levels.

Village Halls

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the availability of capital funding for major repairs to village halls.

Alun Michael: Financial help for village halls from national sources has been high in recent years. Since 1995 the Community Fund has awarded over £130 million to around 3,400 village hall projects. Consultation is under way on the priorities for the new Big Lottery Fund.

Global Warming

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has for increasing public awareness of the (a) causes and (b) effects of global warming.

Elliot Morley: Tackling climate change is at the heart of Government policy and raising awareness of the links between climate change and the choices and behaviour of every individual, business and public sector organisation will be vital for the UK to deliver a low carbon economy. Government are considering ways to communicate better about climate change at every level and have, as part of this, commissioned independent consultants to report by November on an evidence-based climate change communications strategy.

Sewage Pollution

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to ensure that water companies take action to reduce sewage pollution.

Elliot Morley: The Government attach a high priority to reducing sewage pollution not least because of the distress caused by flooding due to the capacity and general condition of existing sewer systems. We are working closely with water companies and the regulators in order to deliver an holistic approach to all sources of flooding.

Aquariums

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the welfare of fish and other aquatic animals in public aquariums; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: My Department has not recently undertaken any research into the welfare of fish and other aquatic animals in public aquariums. However, I am aware of a recent report by an animal welfare campaign organisation, the Captive Animal Protection Society, alleging poor welfare standards in such establishments.
	Aquariums which open to the public are regulated under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and are subject to a comprehensive licensing and inspection regime. The aims of the regime include maintaining appropriate standards of animal welfare and my Department publishes overarching general guidance on the required standards (covering issues such as provision of food and water, suitable environment, animal health care, opportunity to express most normal behaviour and protection from fear and distress). The inspection and licensing regime is operated at local authority level, with support from expert zoo inspectors nominated by my Department.
	We have circulated the Captive Animal Protection Society's report to zoo inspectors and local authorities in England so that they are aware of it and, if appropriate, can take the issues raised into account in the inspection and licensing cycle. Local authorities are able to take action to address shortcomings in individual establishments if they consider it necessary to do so. The report has also been circulated to the Zoos Forum, the Government's independent advisers on zoos, for consideration.

Archaeological Sites

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) financial and (b) other incentives are available to farmers to protect sites of archaeological interest.

Alun Michael: It is a requirement of Defra's agri-environment schemes that any historic features or archaeological sites are protected. Grants of up to 100 per cent. are available to assist in this process eg for fencing or scrub clearance. In addition farmers may apply for payments for specific management options such as reversion of arable land to grassland or maintenance of high water levels, that are designed to protect archaeological features.
	As part of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition requirements for the Single Payment, farmers will be required, without lawful excuse, not to damage any protected monument on their farmland.
	Free advice on how to protect sites of archaeological interest is available from Defra's Rural Development Service.
	In addition, English Heritage provides payments to farmers for management agreements for the maintenance of Scheduled Monuments on their land.

Bird Populations

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the last survey of the population of (a) stone curlews, (b) curlews and (c) lapwings in England and Wales was published; and when it is intended to undertake a further survey.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of breeding stone curlews is monitored annually as part of the joint recovery programme run by RSPB and English Nature. In 2003, 261 pairs were proved to breed, all in England; the figures for 2004 are still being collated but a small increase is expected.
	There has been no national survey of breeding curlews in England or Wales, although those birds breeding on lowland wet meadows were surveyed in 2002; 435 pairs of curlew were recorded by the survey in England (407 pairs) and Wales (28 pairs), a decline of 40 per cent. since the previous survey in 1982. In addition, several breeding wader surveys in particular parts of the English uplands have recorded curlews. There are no plans for a national survey of curlews in the near future.
	The latest survey of breeding lapwings in England and Wales took place in 1998. The lapwing population was estimated at around 63,000 pairs of which around 1,700 pairs were in Wales—these figures represent a decline of 49 per cent. since the previous survey in 1987. There are no plans to repeat this survey in the near future.

Botany

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding she has provided in the last three years to (a) Kew Gardens and (b) other botanical institutions.

Ben Bradshaw: In the last three financial years, to 2003–04, we have provided £19.7 million, £16.6 million and £24.8 million, respectively, as grant-in-aid to the Royal Botanic Gardens. We do not fund other botanical institutions.

Bovine Support Schemes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the ending of bovine support schemes.

Alun Michael: 2004 is the final year that the Bovine Schemes (Beef Special Premium Scheme, Extensification Payment Scheme, Suckler Cow Premium Scheme and Slaughter Premium Scheme) will operate. From 1 January 2005 the Single Payment Scheme will be introduced and will replace most existing crop and livestock schemes including those above.
	The payment window for making advance bovine payments opens on 16 October. The Rural Payments Agency has announced that it expects to start making payments on 18 October—the first working day of the payment window.

British Cattle Movement Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the new rules issued by the British Cattle Movement Service regarding replacement passports.

Alun Michael: The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) has not issued new rules regarding replacement cattle passports, but it will no longer charge for a replacement passport where the original sent by the BCMS has been lost in the post and the loss is not reported within four weeks. Previously keepers who reported the loss after this time were charged a £50 replacement fee.
	This action reflects BCMS's response to the current performance of the Royal Mail service and recognises that in sending documents out from the site, the Royal Mail is acting as the agent for the BCMS. The £50 replacement fee remains applicable if cattle passports become lost, stolen or destroyed in other circumstances, after they have reached the farmer.

British Potato Council

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the British Potato Council, with particular reference to the cost effectiveness of levy collections.

Alun Michael: A statutory review of the British Potato Council (BPC), as required by the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947, is currently underway. Representative industry organisations are being consulted. All aspects of BPC operations, including levy collection, are covered by the review.
	Following completion of the review, GB Ministers will decide whether and how the functions of the BPC should be undertaken in future and on any changes that need to be made to the Council's remit. A decision will be announced early in 2005.
	In addition, in response to Recommendation 20 of Lords Haskins' recent report on modernisation and rural delivery, we have announced our intention to commission a wider independent review of all the agriculture and horticulture levy-funded organisations in 2005. This review will no doubt consider the question of levies and how they are collected.

British Waterways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to expand (a) revenue and (b) capital aid to users of inland waterways for the movement of freight; and what additional financial assistance will be made available to British Waterways to facilitate these developments.

Alun Michael: The Government currently expect to spend about £7.93 million from their Freight Facilities Grant programme in 2004–05 towards expenditure incurred by capital projects designed to assist the movement of freight by water. Assistance for revenue expenditure projects is not currently available.
	The Government will continue to provide grant in aid to help British Waterways meet its freight and other objectives. The Government have no plans to provide British Waterways with additional grant in aid to facilitate the use of its waterways for freight transport. However British Waterways is eligible for grants from the Freight Facilities Grant programme towards infrastructure investments that will lead to identifiable transfer of lorry movements from roads.

British Waterways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list ports which remain within British Waterways' ownership; what the status is of each; and what the budget for their maintenance is in this financial year.

Alun Michael: British Waterways is the harbour authority for a number of ports and docks which are, or have been, used for freight purposes. These include Sharpness Docks, the Port of Howden, the London Docks (the former West India and Millwall Docks), Gloucester Docks, Regents Canal Dock (Limehouse Basin), Liverpool South Docks, Ellesmere Port Docks and Weston Point Docks. Of these only Sharpness Docks and the Port of Howden are currently in use for regular freight shipping traffic and both are operated by private companies. Most of the other docks are now used for recreational purposes and are incapable of being reactivated as freight docks.
	The cost of maintaining British Waterways' freight ports falls to the private companies which operate them. British Waterways is responsible only for dredging the navigational channel and repairing any wall or lock infrastructure. It would be misleading to quote British Waterways' annual costs because it carries out works at irregular intervals and one year's costs are not comparable with another.
	In addition to its ports and docks, British Waterways owns a number of wharves on its inland waterway system.

Climate Change Conference

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the forthcoming climate change negotiations in Buenos Aires in December.

Margaret Beckett: The UK welcomes the hospitality shown by the Government of Argentina in hosting the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The ministerial segment of the conference will focus on accomplishments and future challenges for the convention on its 10th anniversary; impacts of climate change, adaptation measures and sustainable development; technology; and mitigation policies.

Common Agricultural Policy

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responses she has received from farmers about her proposals for using the common agricultural policy to reform measures to promote sustainable farming.

Alun Michael: Following agreement of the common agricultural policy reforms in June, we have received a considerable amount of responses from farmers, their representatives and others on all aspects of the proposals as well as responses to the public consultation exercise conducted over the last 18 months.

Conservation Areas

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she intends to designate (a) Bolton Fell Moss and (b) Solway Moss as candidate special areas of conservation; and what the results were of the public consultation on this matter.

Ben Bradshaw: Bolton Fell and Solway Moss are being considered for designation as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). Scientific consultations on these two sites are ongoing in the light of scientific objections raised about their candidature. Once this process has been concluded, and if the sites meet the selection criteria for SAC protection, they will be designated
	Both sites were the subject of Public Consultations in August 2002
	Of 147 consultees for the Solway Moss pSAC, including other parts of the South Solway Moss, three objections remain unsolved. Two of the objections are both socio-economic and scientific, and the third objection is based on scientific reasons only.
	The consultation on the Bolton Fell, was sent to 92 consultees, of which nine still have unresolved objections on scientific ground and three have objections on socio-economic grounds

Consultants

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the contracts awarded by her Department to consultants in each of the last five years, stating in each case (a) the name of the consulting company, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra was created in June 2001. The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government supported the proposal at the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species meeting in Bangkok to allow Nambia and South Africa to resume trade in black rhino products.

Elliot Morley: Following expert advice the Government, along with the other EU member states, voted in support of the amended Namibian proposal. This provided that only adult males could be exported and that all hunting trophies would be marked with the country of origin, species, quota number and year of export. South Africa's proposal was also supported following their amendment reducing the annual quota from 10 to five animals. These amended proposals were subsequently adopted in plenary.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will support Kenya's proposal at the thirteenth conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to ensure that the conditions of the one-off ivory stockpile sales from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa are strictly defined to prevent any detrimental impact on elephants before any trade in ivory resumes.

Elliot Morley: The Government of Kenya have withdrawn their proposal in relation to the one-off ivory stockpile sales from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The Government are happy with this outcome that will allow the parties to CITES to move forward on the agreement made at the 12th Conference of Parties in Santiago. We believe the Santiago agreement strikes the right balance between meeting the legitimate expectations of the southern African states that they should be able to engage in sustainable utilisation of their natural resources, while establishing strict controls to secure the conservation of wider elephant populations.

Countryside Code

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to promote the new Countryside Code.

Alun Michael: I launched the new Countryside Code on 12 July this year, and it is being promoted through cartoon broadcasts on television channels across England and Wales and at selected cinemas and outdoor venues. The Code is free of charge and is being promoted through Tourist Information Centres and through the Countryside Agency website: www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk Educational materials for teachers and youth leaders will be available from January 2005.

Dairy Industry

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to meet the Minister for Rural Regeneration at the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the dairy sector.

Alun Michael: I shall be meeting Carwyn Jones, who is Minister for Environment Planning and Countryside in the Welsh Assembly on Monday and our agenda for the meeting will include the dairy sector.

Departmental Audits

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what audit is carried out of her Department by European Union institutions; and when the next such audit is to be carried out.

Alun Michael: The EU carries out financial audits of Defra and its agencies in relation to the discharging of EU funds through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Structural Funds programmes.
	These audits are carried out on a sample basis throughout the year, as well as on an annual, year-end basis.
	In addition, the Commission will from time-to-time seek to satisfy itself that the UK has properly transposed Community legal obligations into UK law or is acting in conformity with other, non-financial, obligations, and will report on these in an ad hoc fashion.
	More widely, many EU Directives and Regulations covering areas on which Defra leads within Government require all member states to monitor, record and transmit information, and to compile and transmit reports, to the European Commission on a regular basis for compliance monitoring purposes.

Departmental IT Contract

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the decision to outsource the contract for her Department's IT resources to International Business Machines United Kingdom Ltd.; what budget was originally set to pay for the scheme; what the cost and duration will be; and which agencies in her Department it will apply to.

Alun Michael: I have taken an active interest in this procurement and discussed progress with the programme director at regular intervals. Evaluation of proposals within the Department showed that award of contract to IBM was the most economically advantageous option, and a business case showed that this was better than continuing with the previous in-house service. For evaluation purposes and to determine whether the outsource was affordable, the business case was evaluated on the basis of actual cost of service required rather than historical budget allocation. The final contract has a potential cost of £509 million over 10 years though the applications development component is non-exclusive. The initial contract is for seven years with options to extend and it applies to core Defra, and the Rural Payments Agency. Other Defra Executive agencies, any NDPB currently sponsored by Defra, and Covent Garden Market Authority are included in this procurement with the right but no obligation to opt into the contract.

Drinking Water (Sustainability)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the net sustainability percentage for the ability in each local authority area to provide drinking water for the local population.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 October 2004
	The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales and as part of its role produces national and regional water resource strategies. The Government expect water companies to take a twin track approach of managing demand and developing sustainable resources where needed. The resource strategies are complemented by water companies' 25 year water resource plans, which set out how they plan to achieve a sustainable balance between supply and demand for water. This process ensures that there is sufficient drinking water to supply the local populations served by water companies.

Fisheries

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the Government intends regional advisory councils to have in the management of fisheries; and what steps they are taking.

Ben Bradshaw: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) needs better stakeholder engagement and a more regional focus, and Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) are a key part of the reforms agreed in 2002. They are international stakeholder-led organisations that will advise the Commission and the Member States on sustainable fisheries management.
	The Government are taking a leading role to facilitate the establishment of RACs (the North Sea RAC will be the first) and will continue to support them as they become functioning advisory bodies. We have worked closely with the Commission and other Member States as well as the Scottish Executive, provided funding for stakeholder meetings and secured a three year contribution to the running costs of the North Sea RAC from Member States. As the RACs become functioning advisory bodies, we will continue to work with the Commission and other Member States as well as the Scottish Executive and provide practical assistance.
	If successful, RACs will lead to improved decision-making under the CFP. We see them as a potential first step towards regional management—a principle we will develop in our response to "Net Benefits", the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report on fisheries management.

Fallen Stock

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the National Fallen Stock Company to be operational.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Scheme Company Limited began work on developing a national scheme in December 2003. The Scheme is due to start collecting fallen stock later this autumn.

Farm Business Advice Service

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers in the Business Link region of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire have received free consultancy advice from the Farm Business Advice Service.

Alun Michael: By 31 August 2004, a total of 369 farmers in the Business Link region of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire have received free consultancy advice under the Farm Business Advice Service since it began in October 2000. In addition, 41 of these farmers are in the process of receiving the service for a second time because their circumstances have changed significantly since first receiving the advice. This results in a total of 410 cases either completed or underway in these areas.

Flooding

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the insurance industry on the new Environment Agency maps of zones susceptible to flooding.

Elliot Morley: My department has discussed the latest flood risk maps with both the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Environment Agency and I welcome their production.
	Defra, Environment Agency and ABI officials meet regularly to discuss progress against the ABI's Statement of Principles, which includes improved flood risk mapping. I am planning to meet the ABI later this year and this will provide an opportunity to discuss this issue further.

Free Fruit (Primary Schools)

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the rural proofing by her Department of the Government's scheme to provide free fruit to children in primary schools.

Alun Michael: The National Free Fruit Scheme was launched in November 2000 and has been expanded upon since then. The scheme pre-dates the introduction of rural proofing, which was launched in the Rural White Paper, also of November 2000. It was not initially subject to rural proofing, but all new policy is subject to Regulatory Impact Assessment, which includes an element of rural proofing. This would normally be done by the Department introducing the policy, in this case, the Department of Health. Clearly, the policy applies to both rural and urban schools and as well as providing health benefits it uses produce from rural areas and promotes consumption which is likely to help the rural economy in the long term.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the European Commission about the GM maize Monsanto 810.

Elliot Morley: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has made no representations to the European Commission about GM maize line MON 810.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on independent research into genetically-modified crops in each year since 1994; and what proportion has been spent on research into crops specifically aimed to be grown in developing countries.

Elliot Morley: The following table shows spending by Defra since its formation in 2001 on independent research on genetically modified crops. None of this has been spent on crops specifically aimed to be grown in developing countries.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2001–02 3,633 
			 2002–03 3,844 
			 2003–04 1,950

GM Food and Feed Regulation

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list public bodies who will be responsible for enforcing the GM Food and Feed Regulation (EC) No.1830/2003 in the UK; and what estimate has been made of the cost to each body of the enforcement role.

Elliot Morley: Local authorities are responsible for monitoring and enforcing food labelling requirements. They are responsible for inspection and control measures to ensure compliance with Regulation (EC) 1830/2003, concerning the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms, and Regulation (EC)1829/2003, on genetically modified food and feed. Depending on the authority the responsibility may be passed to Port Health Authorities and/or Trading Standards Officers.
	Local authorities in England estimate that in 2004–05 they will spend £120-£150 million on food law enforcement in total, of which these regulations form part. Each authority manages its budget according to local needs and priorities, and no estimate has been made to date of the overall cost of enforcing these regulations. Nevertheless local authorities are being encouraged to collate information on the cost of enforcing these regulations, which will be used to contribute towards the European Commission's review of these regulations in November 2005.

Grain Harvest

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the percentage of the grain harvest that is likely to be successfully harvested this year.

Alun Michael: Defra figures published on 14 October estimate that the total UK cereals harvest was some 4 per cent. higher than last year, including an increase of around 10 per cent. for wheat, reflecting higher planted areas and a higher overall yield. Very few crops have been reported as unharvestable, but in a number of areas quality has been significantly affected by the very difficult weather conditions in the second half of July and in August.

Grain Harvest

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she will take to alleviate the problems of (a) crop failure and (b) low value crops caused by the weather conditions during harvest this year; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra figures published on 14 October show that this year's UK cereals production is estimated to be some 4 per cent. higher than in 2003, despite the serious delays and difficulties experienced in parts of the country during the harvesting period. Very few crops have been reported as totally lost, though in many areas quality would appear to have been significantly affected by the poor weather conditions.
	Following consultations with farming organisations, we announced on 22 September that we had concluded that the most effective action we could take would be to give priority to farmers in the worst affected counties so that they receive their EU arable area aid at the start of the normal payment window on 16 November, rather than attempting to make partial advances which would have to be topped-up in a separate operation later on.
	We are continuing to work closely with farming organisations to ensure the most effective targeting of these efforts and to explore other ways in which existing schemes and resources can be used to help to mitigate the marketing problems which we accept many arable farmers are facing.

Greenhouse Gases

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions has been in percentage terms in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) City of York since 1997.

Elliot Morley: Data for industrial processes regulated by the Environment Agency are published in the Environment Agency's Pollution Inventory for years since 1998. This information shows that greenhouse gas emissions from major industry and power generation in Yorkshire and the Humber increased by about 1.7 per cent. between 1998 and 2003, mainly because of an increase in emissions from power generation in 2003. The Pollution Inventory does not include emissions from transport, the residential sector, small-scale business or the public sector. A previous study conducted for Yorkshire Forward by Cambridge Econometrics suggests that between 1995 and 2001, greenhouse gas emissions from all sources in Yorkshire and the Humber fell by 2.4 per cent.
	The Pollution Inventory records data only for one plant within York itself. Greenhouse gas emissions from this plant increased by about 121 per cent. between 1998 and 2003, but this will not be representative of the total emissions from the city.
	The National Environmental Technology Centre has, on behalf of Defra, prepared estimates for carbon dioxide only which suggest that in 2002, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the City of York, accounted respectively for about 10.6 per cent. and 0.15 per cent. of the UK total. Similarly disaggregated estimates will be prepared on an annual basis in future, which will improve the basis for estimating trends at the local level.

Greenhouse Gases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the change in the level of greenhouse gas emissions from the European Union in 2001.

Elliot Morley: In 2001 the EU had reduced its overall emissions by 2.3 per cent. below base-year levels. In 2002, the most recent year for which data are available, emissions had fallen to 2.9 per cent. below base-year levels. The base-year is 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for fluorinated compounds.
	The EU is committed under the Kyoto Protocol to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 8 per cent. by 2008–12. Analysis indicates that, with planned new national measures within member states and with the use of flexibility mechanisms (including emissions trading), the EU should meet its Kyoto target.

Hazardous Waste Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hazardous waste recycling sites were (a) licensed and (b) operating in the United Kingdom on 11 October (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency are responsible for licensing hazardous waste recycling sites in England and Wales. Their current data for the relevant periods is shown in the following table and relates to those handling special waste as defined in the Special Waste Regulations. The sites listed as "all status" include permitted sites that are closed, expired, issued, modified, partially revoked, revoked, surrendered, suspended and transferred. "Issued only" refers to sites currently in operation.
	
		
			  Current quarter to 11 October 2003 Quarter ending 2 July 2004 
			 Description All status Issued only All status Issued only 
		
		
			 Special Waste Transfer Station 582 425 596 439 
			 Clinical Waste Transfer Station 189 127 192 130 
			 Transfer Station taking non-biodegradable 284 199 287 202 
			 Physico-Chemical Treatment Facility 105 84 110 89 
			 Chemical Treatment Facility 41 34 41 34 
			 Biological Treatment Facility 104 91 108 95 
		
	
	Note:
	This information is updated quarterly. Data for the entire current quarter will be available from 18 October.

Hedges

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives are available to farmers (a) to plant new hedges, (b) to improve dilapidated hedges and (c) not to grub up hedges.

Elliot Morley: Grants are available through our agri-environment schemes for planting new hedges or improving dilapidated hedges, for example by hedge-laying. The current rates for both are £5/metre.
	There are no incentives for not grubbing up hedges, but such activity is governed by the Hedgerows Regulations 1997. Compliance with these regulations is a condition of the agri-environment schemes and from 1 January 2005 will also be a condition for receiving payment under the Single Payment Scheme. Any breach of the requirements may lead to a financial sanction.

Hedges

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the National Farmers Union on the two metre strip along each hedge which will be a pre-condition for the single farm payment.

Alun Michael: Defra's Ministers and officials have held a continuing dialogue with the National Farmers Union and other key stakeholders over the development and implementation of cross compliance requirements.

Hedges

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition her Department uses of the term hedge.

Elliot Morley: The term hedge is not separately defined in the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 nor in section 97 of the Environment Act 1995.
	A hedge may broadly be considered as a row of low bushes or trees. The detailed interpretation given to the term by this Department depends on the particular circumstances in which it is being used.
	Under cross compliance scheme rules, the definition used will be: a more or less continuous boundary line of woody vegetation maintained in a linear shape by cutting or another traditional method of management e.g. coppicing, laying, pollarding.

Hedges

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the two metre stretch on either side of a hedge may be grazed for the purposes of the single farm payment.

Alun Michael: Yes.

Hedges

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conditions under the entry level scheme will prevent farmers from grubbing up all but their perimeter hedges in order to avoid the two metre border requirement.

Elliot Morley: Farmers who wish to join Entry Level Stewardship must record all their hedges and agree to retain them throughout their 5-year agreement. The scheme includes hedgerow management options which provide an incentive to maintain their hedgerows in good environmental condition.
	Legislative protection is provided by the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 which prevent the removal of most countryside hedges in England and Wales without seeking permission from the local planning authority.

Hydrofluorocarbons

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what comparison she has made between measures taken to reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions in the UK and those taken by other EU member states; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 14 October 2004
	Extensive information about measures to reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions was collected by the European Commission. This included a report (2001) by the Fluorinated Gas Working Group which included representatives from all relevant industrial sectors, environmental non-governmental organisations and Member States. In addition, a further consultancy report (2003) for the Commission included an analysis of government policies on fluorinated gases in then fifteen Member States of the EU.
	This material was used in the preparation of the Commission proposal of August 2003 for a Regulation on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Incineration

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of incineration in the UK was in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003.

Elliot Morley: Waste Management is a devolved responsibility. The Municipal Waste Management Survey of English local authorities, which is conducted annually by Defra, shows the amount of municipal waste incinerated has remained largely constant at just under 9 per cent. throughout the period 2000–03.
	Figures for the amount of commercial and industrial waste incinerated are not collected annually. However the Environment Agency's National Waste Production Survey of a sample of 20,000 businesses, conducted in 1998–99, estimated that slightly more than 2 per cent. of commercial and industrial waste was incinerated that year.

Noise/Pollution

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) noise and (b) nuisance complaints were investigated by Aylesbury Vale district council in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; what proportion of reported complaints this represented; how many abatement notices were issued in each year; and how many fines were levied for non-compliance.

Alun Michael: In 2002–03, Aylesbury Vale district council investigated 575 complaints of noise nuisance, with three abatement notices served. Of these three notices, two were followed by further action for non-compliance. In the same period the council investigated 276 complaints of other statutory nuisance such as smoke, dust and odour nuisance, with no abatement notices served.
	In 2003–04, 688 complaints of noise nuisance were investigated, with six abatement notices served. Four of these abatement notices were not complied with, requiring the local authority to take further action. 348 complaints of other statutory nuisance were investigated, resulting in two abatement notices being served.
	Detailed statistics of the level of fines imposed for non-compliance to abatement notices are not available.
	It is a requirement under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to take such steps as is reasonably practicable to investigate a complaint of noise or other statutory nuisance.

Noise/Pollution

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many successful prosecutions have been undertaken by the Environment Agency concerning pollution in Buckinghamshire in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and what the average level of fine imposed was.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency undertook four fully successful prosecutions in 2002–03 for offences in Buckinghamshire concerning pollution, the average fine for which was £3,625.
	In 2003–04 the Environment Agency undertook 11 fully successful prosecutions for offences in Buckinghamshire concerning pollution, the average fine for which was £3,480. There was also one partially successful prosecution relating to pollution offences, the fine for which was £1,500.

Noise/Pollution

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints were received by the Environment Agency concerning pollution in the Aylesbury Vale district council area in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04.

Elliot Morley: In 2002–03, 348 possible pollution incidents within the Aylesbury Vale district council boundary were reported to the Environment Agency. In 2003–04 the figure was 288.

Red Squirrels

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Joint Nature Conservancy Council has produced recommendations for (a) the protection and (b) the re-establishment of the red squirrel.

Ben Bradshaw: The red squirrel is currently protected in the UK by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (and The Wildlife and Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1982), amended, most recently, by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW) for England and Wales and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. It is included in both Schedules 5 and 6 making it an offence to kill or injure a red squirrel or disturb its place of rest. In addition to this the red squirrel was identified as a priority species for conservation action by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan process. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, as a member of the UK Red Squirrel Group (UKRSG), has undertaken research into the conservation issues of the red squirrel, and has set out recommended actions and targets in the red squirrel Species Action Plan.
	The UKRSG has largely focused conservation action for the red squirrel in key woodland sites where they are still present. A prioritisation exercise has identified those sites with suitable red squirrel habitat that can be managed to ensure their continued survival and reduce the influence of factors that may be causing their decline, such as habitat loss and loss of habitat condition, grey squirrel incursion and disease.
	With regards to the re-establishment of the red squirrel in the UK, there are several issues to be addressed, including the amelioration of the reasons for their decline at different sites. JNCC, and the UKRSG, have produced best practice guidelines on the release of red squirrels, but do not recommend the re-introduction of red squirrels without careful consideration of the site to ensure that it is of suitable habitat to support a red squirrel population and that it can be protected from the above factors.

Red Squirrels

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department intends to take to control the grey squirrel.

Ben Bradshaw: Grey squirrels are difficult animals to control, particularly on a wide scale. Landowners can take positive action to control grey squirrels locally to protect isolated populations of red squirrels and woodlands. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 12 July and 11 October, Official Report, columns 8951V and WA43.

Reed Bed Technology

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what encouragement the Department is giving to local authorities to develop use of reed bed technology in (a) urban and (b) rural areas.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 October 2004
	The Department is part of the National Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) Working Group which published an Interim Code of Practice for Sustainable Drainage Systems (http://www.ciria.org/suds/icop.htm) in July this year. This document aims to facilitate the implementation of Sustainable drainage options (such as reed bed technology) in developments in England and Wales by providing model maintenance agreements and advice on their use. It provides a set of agreements between those public organisations with statutory or regulatory responsibilities relating to SUDS, including local authorities.

Rights of Way

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many requests she received in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 under section 118 of the Highways Act 1980 to close rights of way; how many rights of way were closed as a result of designation orders in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Requests to make orders to close rights of way under section 118 (and section 118B) of the Highways Act 1980 are made to local authorities, and the role of the Secretary of State is to designate areas within which the powers under section 118B may be used by local highway authorities in response to the local authority applications. We have received 23 applications to designate such areas since the legislation came into force in February 2002; 14 were received in 2003 and nine in 2004. 20 have been approved, covering 72 areas in England.
	Within the 72 areas that were designated, eighteen orders to close rights of way have been made by local authorities. Two of these have resulted in rights of way being closed in 2004. The remaining sixteen orders are awaiting confirmation by the local highway authority or Secretary of State.

School Milk

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support her Department is giving to School Milk Week.

Alun Michael: The School Milk Week promotional campaign, which is taking place during this year's National School Milk Week, is funded by the EU with match-funding from the dairy processing trade and the Milk Development Council, a Defra-sponsored NDPB.
	The Government make a considerable continuing contribution to the promotion of school milk. Expenditure on the EU school milk subsidy scheme, which in Great Britain amounted to over £9 million in 2003–04, is, in practice, funded largely by the taxpayer. In addition, Defra, along with DfES and the DoH, co-funds a national top-up to the subsidy of up to £1.5 million annually in England.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of Network Rail's permitted development rights on sites of special scientific interest.

Ben Bradshaw: No specific assessment has been made. Network Rail must seek consent from English Nature if they wish to undertake a potentially damaging operation on an SSSI in England in their ownership. The position is slightly different in Scotland. When the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 comes into force there will be a similar requirement to seek consent from Scottish Natural Heritage in Scotland.

Southend Environment

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list grants her Department has made to improve the environment in Southend in each of the last three years.

Alun Michael: Payments have been made to Southend-on-Sea borough council to support the following projects to reduce risk from flooding and coastal erosion:
	
		£
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Two Tree Island Preliminary Study —  35,813  — 
			 Improvements—Pier to Lynton Road 765,179  1,984,447  — 
			 Beach Management—Pier to Lynton Road —  —  9,990 
		
	
	In addition, in 2002–03 there was payment of £268,565 to the Essex Partnership—which includes Southend—for a campaign for raising awareness of recycling.

SPS Forms

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the delay in sending out SPS forms by the Rural Payments Agency; and whether these delays will affect the deadline date by which farmers have to submit their returns.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has sent over 89,000 Information Statements in the past four months, and is on target to issue the remainder, fewer than 500, by the end of October.
	The Information Statements contain data that the RPA has determined will be used to calculate the historic element of a producer's Single Payment. Producers have been asked to provide any amendments to the data within 28 days of receipt of their statement. This timescale will also apply to producers who have yet to receive their statements.

Tree Planting

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial incentives are available to farmers who wish to plant trees; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme is the main source of incentives available to farmers who wish to plant trees. This may be combined with Defra's Farm Woodland Premium Scheme which provides annual payments, based on income forgone, for areas of new farm woodlands. The Woodland Grant Scheme provides incentives to plant areas of trees of 0.25 hectares and above; support for smaller areas of tree planting is available under Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
	In England, the Woodland Grant Scheme is currently closed to new applications and will be replaced by the new English Woodland Grant Scheme, which will open for applications in 2005. The new scheme will combine the incentives available under the separate Forestry Commission (WGS) and Defra (FWPS) schemes into one application process for farmers. Defra's Environmental Stewardship Scheme, to be introduced in 2005, will also provide incentives for small-scale tree planting.

Urban Landscapes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she is having with house builders on the provision of better environmental landscapes for urban developments; and what evidence she has collated that good practice is evolving.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has many meetings with many different organisations whose interests lie with the protection and enhancement of the environment. Such meetings follow on from, and inform, the development of departmental policy.
	Defra is working with ODPM on long-term planning policy for urban areas, particularly in respect of the four growth areas identified under the Sustainable Communities Plan. A key element of this work is to ensure that creative approaches to the provision of greenspace are built into development plans from the outset. As an example of what we are aiming to achieve we published "Creating sustainable communities: Greening the Gateway" on 14 January 2004. It sets out a joint vision for the landscape of the Thames Gateway region over the next 25–30 years.
	At a very practical level these policies feed into the work of the Defra agencies—the Countryside Agency, English Nature, and the Forestry Commission. Benefits for Gloucestershire residents have been provided through the Cotswolds AONB Design Guide for local authorities and practitioners (guidance on locally appropriate design) funded for Defra by the Countryside Agency.
	The booklet "Biodiversity by Design: A Guide for Sustainable Communities' was launched on 17 September 2004 following from the work English Nature undertook with the Town and Country Planning Association (TPCA). It is the first in a series of good practice guides setting out practical design led solutions, showing the attention which my Department, and the agencies, pay to the detailed needs of planning practitioners. The guide sets out solutions on how to maximise opportunities for biodiversity in development. In addition, it contains international case studies from European cities such as Berlin demonstrating new approaches with possible applications for the UK.

Waste Management

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 October 2004, Official Report, column 1946W, on waste management, if the Minister will set out a timetable for achieving his proposals.

Elliot Morley: Following the Gershon review to identify areas where improved efficiency can be delivered, Defra will facilitate efficiency gains on waste services of £30/105/164 million for the financial years 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	Significant progress is already being made through the extension of Defra's existing Waste Implementation Programme. This was launched in May 2003 to help local authorities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their waste services and to meet targets for more sustainable waste management.
	Recent achievements include delivery of: direct consultancy support for local authorities to improve operational effectiveness; specialist procurement and project management consultancy to major local authority partnership projects; an online procurement support sign-posting brochure; a waste-specific PFI procurement toolkit; and, an online new technologies data centre. A standard waste contract documentation toolkit will also be available to local authorities online.
	Further milestones for the programme include: commencement of a programme of action to identify/tackle barriers to new entrants to the waste market from September 2004; consultation on revised planning policy guidance on waste and on new guidance on municipal waste management strategies, by end-December 2004; implementation of a three year strategy to deliver better waste data from April 2005; and delivery of 10 new technology pilot schemes by end March 2008.

Water Savings Trust

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on plans to launch a water savings trust; and with whom she has discussed the plans.

Elliot Morley: During the passage of the Water Act 2003 the option of establishing a water savings trust was discussed and I confirmed that I would request the Environment Agency to consider this option as one of a number of possible steps that could be taken to promote and secure water efficiency. The Environment Agency has commissioned consultants to undertake a feasibility study and they are engaged in reviewing existing water efficiency activity and developing possible models for a water savings trust. As part of this process they have held a consultation workshop to obtain views from a wide range of relevant stakeholders. The Environment Agency will report the output of the feasibility study to Defra by the end of January.

Wildlife Protection

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to (a) protect and (b) enhance the natural wildlife habitat around the UK rail network.

Ben Bradshaw: English Nature work regularly with Network Rail at national, regional and local levels to take the steps necessary to protect and enhance wildlife habitat around the UK rail network. Network Rail's vision for the environment is to ensure that protected heritage features and habitats under its care make a positive contribution to the quality of life in the UK. It has a safety and environment plan for 2004–05 which includes a commitment to address conservation issues and in particular to work with English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales to agree site management statements for 80 per cent. of the SSSIs on its land. It also includes an objective to implement a rolling programme to update its Biodiversity Action Plan.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Teenage Pregnancy (Greater London)

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the teenage pregnancy rate in each local authority in the Greater London area was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003–04.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 21 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the teenage pregnancy rate in each local authority in the Greater London area was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003–04. (192527)
	The most recent year for which conceptions statistics are available is 2002. The available figures are provisional estimates and are given in the attached table for the areas requested.
	
		Conceptions to women aged under 18—number and rate:London 1997 and 2002(5)
		
			  1997 2002(5) 
			  Number of conceptions Rate per 1,000 women aged 15–17 Number of conceptions Rate per 1,000 women aged 15–17 
		
		
			 London 5,975 50.6 6,512 52.0 
			  
			 Inner London2,758 65.2 3,010 66.9 
			 Camden 144 52.4 135 49.3 
			 Hackney and City of London 279 79.6 303 75.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 126 61.0 137 62.0 
			 Haringey 234 65.3 313 79.3 
			 Islington 169 61.6 173 62.6 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 75 42.3 81 42.8 
			 Lambeth 352 85.7 406 99.6 
			 Lewisham 302 79.0 328 75.2 
			 Newham 295 62.2 333 57.9 
			 Southwark 284 78.6 335 81.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 185 49.3 187 46.5 
			 Wandsworth 219 66.5 184 64.4 
			 Westminster City of 94 36.4 95 43.2 
			 Outer London  
			 Barking and Dagenham 193 69.0 236 73.3 
			 Barnet 171 30.2 192 33.6 
			 Bexley 140 37.0 172 40.1 
			 Brent 206 44.7 253 51.4 
			 Bromley 142 29.3 179 35.1 
			 Croydon 320 53.5 367 58.1 
			 Ealing 200 38.9 185 34.8 
			 Enfield 206 45.7 292 55.6 
			 Greenwich 274 67.4 248 61.9 
			 Harrow 120 30.8 115 28.0 
			 Havering 162 38.7 150 36.7 
			 Hillingdon 221 53.0 210 46.8 
			 Hounslow 164 44.0 158 40.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 66 28.6 68 27.5 
			 Merton 109 41.5 118 40.5 
			 Redbridge 150 35.2 155 33.5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 66 25.2 63 26.6 
			 Sutton 106 36.9 110 34.9 
			 Waltham Forest 201 54.4 231 58.0 
		
	
	(5) Provisional figures.

Education Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what projected expenditure under the (a) Targeted Capital Fund and (b) locally co-ordinated voluntary aided programme is for (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06 and (iii) 2006–07; and what spending was in 2003–04.

David Miliband: I have placed two tables of information in the Library of the House. Table A shows details of spending against Targeted Capital projects and the Local Education Authority Co-ordinated Voluntary Aided Programme for 2004–05. Table B shows the projected programme for 2004–05. I am not yet able to confirm all of the programmes for 2005–06 and 2006–07 but will be announcing the details in the next month or so.

Education Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the availability of capital funding to local education authorities not in Phase 1 of Building Schools for the Future.

David Miliband: I aim to announce in the next month or so details of capital funding available for all local authorities and schools over the 2004 Spending Review period.

Education Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on the future of the (a) locally co-ordinated voluntary aided programme and (b) Targeted Capital Fund; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: I can confirm that these popular programmes will continue. The Department works with the Voluntary Aided Capital Working Group on schools capital issues. The Secretary of State has previously announced increases in the Department's total schools capital budget, and I will announce more details early next month, including some developments in the Targeted Capital Fund programme.

Mathematics (A-level)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the number and rate for the relevant pupil population of mathematics A grades at A level (a) at Westminster School and (b) in schools in (i) inner London, (ii) Birmingham, (iii) Manchester and (iv) Leeds.

David Miliband: The information requested given in Table 1 is for academic year 2002/03. Figures for 2003/04 will be available for local education authorities from October 21 and for schools after the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables are published in January.
	
		Table 1: Grade A achievement at mathematics by students aged 16 to 18 in 2002/03
		
			  Number of A grades at A level mathematics As a percentage of A level mathematics entries (percentage) 
		
		
			 Westminster School 105 91 
			 Birmingham LEA 256 34 
			 Leeds LEA 134 31 
			 Manchester LEA 59 31 
			 Inner London LEAs 242 23 
		
	
	Note:
	It is DfES policy that Local Education Authority statistics include both maintained schools (mainstream and special) and Further Education Sector Institutions, but exclude independent schools.

Teachers' Pay

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average full-time equivalent gross pay of teachers in York schools was in each year since 1997 (a) in cash terms and (b) at current prices.

David Miliband: The following table gives the actual gross average salary in cash terms and 2002–03 prices. The information is for full-time regular qualified teachers at all grades in the maintained schools sector in the City of York local education authority in each year from 1997. The latest information is for 2003.
	
		
			  Average salary(6) Current prices(7) 
		
		
			 1997 22,550 26,070 
			 1998 23,200 26,150 
			 1999 24,060 26,370 
			 2000 24,930 26,740 
			 2001 26,920 28,530 
			 2002 27,840 28,770 
			 2003 29,670 29,670 
		
	
	Sources:
	Database of Teachers' Records
	(6) Includes all allowances. Data as at March each year.
	(7) The actual salaries have been adjusted using the current GDP price deflator, for which the value for year 2002–03 has been set to 100.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Angola

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is giving to development projects in Angola.

Hilary Benn: DFID has set out its proposed support for Angola for the period 2003 to 2006 in its Country Engagement Plan, which complements the UK's overall Angola policy framework. DFID's assistance in 2004–05 will be almost £9 million. £3 million of this has been allocated to humanitarian programmes. Working closely with international partners like the World Bank and the United Nations, DFID is tightly focusing our development efforts on three main areas:
	Consolidation of Peace
	DFID is supporting media and civil society activities worth £1.13 million aimed at building peace and preventing further conflict. In addition, Angola benefits from an Africa Conflict Prevention Pool contribution of US$ 25 million over five years to the World Bank's Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (MDRP) for the Africa Great Lakes region.
	Democratisation
	DFID is helping prepare civil society and other stakeholders for the national elections scheduled for September 2006. The total cost of this programme over two years is expected to exceed £0.5 million.
	Economic Reform and Transparency
	DFID is working closely with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to assist the Government of Angola to introduce economic reforms aimed at improved financial management and greater transparency. This includes setting up a Trust Fund to help Angola sign up to and implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. DFID has also been supporting the Angolan national response to combat HIV/AIDS; the process to develop and implement a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and land reform. All of the above programmes are worth £1.64 million. And finally, we are contributing £8.9 million over three years to alleviate urban poverty through our Luanda Urban Poverty Programme.

Blindness

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the governments of developing countries on education for blind children; and what measures his Department is planning to tackle preventable diseases that lead to blindness in least developed countries.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to working with the governments of developing countries towards the education of all children, including those with limited vision and blindness. Poor vision has a detrimental impact on access to education and literacy. DFID is therefore engaged in ongoing discussions with developing countries governments to help find ways to improve the vision of children and adults. For example, in Ghana, DFID will be providing £150,000 to support Adaptive Eyecare—a project designed to provide easy and affordable vision correction for the poor.
	DFID also supports the work of ministries of health in developing countries to tackle preventable diseases that lead to blindness. This includes a range of programmes that work towards the prevention and treatment of blindness. In addition, DFID also support the Onchocerciasis Control Programme—a global initiative to protect a total population of £30 million people in 11 countries from river blindness.

Cayman Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the percentage change in gross domestic product per capita of the Cayman Islands has been in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The figures in the following table, which are based on data published by the Cayman Islands' Government, give the information requested. The Cayman authorities changed the method used to calculate Gross Domestic Product in 1998, which is reflected in the figures by a jump in the 1998 growth rate. The figures after that date, therefore, are not strictly comparable with the earlier percentages.
	
		
			  Percentage change in GDP per capita 
		
		
			 1994 3.9 
			 1995 3.7 
			 1996 3.2 
			 1997 4.2 
			 1998 26.2 
			 1999 5.7 
			 2000 1.4 
			 2001 - 0.3 
			 2002 1.7 
			 2003 0.8

Cayman Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the socio-economic effects of Hurricane Ivan on the Cayman Islands.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Government of the Cayman Islands has commissioned an assessment of these effects. It will be for the Government of the Cayman Islands to decide whether these results are made public when they are finalised.

Consultants

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to consultants in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) the name of the consulting company, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 18 October 2004
	DFID uses consultants to help development partners manage a wide range of aid programmes on the ground. For example, in Uganda, DFID-funded consultants have helped the Government manage the HIV/AIDS crisis. In Bangladesh, consultants have helped the Government strengthen management of health services, saving administration costs and improving service delivery at local level. In Grenada, a DFID funded consultant is helping the Prime Minister's Office plan for reconstruction and development following the hurricane.
	Spending on consultants and other contracted experts as a proportion of the total aid budget has fallen since 1997 from 16 per cent. to 10 per cent. Details of new contracts awarded by DFID have been published on the DFID website since 2003. All contracts worth more than £100,000 are subject to international competition. I am arranging for a list of contracts issued by DFID in the last 5 years entitled "DFID Contracts issued from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004" to be placed in the Libraries of the House very shortly. This does not include lower value contracts issued by DFID's overseas offices, details of which are not held centrally and could be provided only by incurring a disproportionate cost.

Dalit People

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department funds Dalit (a) development and (b) empowerment programmes in South Asia.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Tackling social exclusion, of which caste discrimination is an important element, is a key issue for reducing poverty in South Asia. DFID funds a range of programmes in South Asia that directly empower and benefit socially excluded groups. Some of these, such as the Dalit NGO Federation's Dalit Empowerment and Inclusion Project in Nepal, are explicitly designed to support Dalit organisations.

Departmental Staff

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what records his Department keeps of staff members' caste origins; and whether caste inequalities are monitored.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID monitors, records and has targets for gender, ethnicity and disability. DFID does not currently have any formal systems in place for monitoring caste in its own, or in partner, organisations.

Departmental Staff

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which castes his South Asian members of departmental and agency staff, employed in South Asia belong to.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID monitors and has targets for gender, ethnicity and disability. DFID does not currently have any formal systems in place for monitoring caste in its own, or in partner, organisations.

Ethiopia

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the food shortage in the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: The Tigray region of Ethiopia is dependent upon both the short (March to May) and main rainy seasons (June to September). The short rainy season was poor resulting in reduced or failed staple crop production and loss of pasture and water. Preliminary assessments of the main rainy season have also indicated that harvests are likely to be poor.
	The Government of Ethiopia's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission early warning report issued in August 2004 indicated that 1.2 million people need assistance until the end of the year. This need translates to 62,982 metric tonnes of assorted food; this need is currently fully covered.
	The Department for International Development continues to monitor the situation closely and will respond to humanitarian needs accordingly.

Ethiopia

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's progress in helping Ethiopia to improve (a) access to clean water, (b) access to food resources and (c) access to primary education; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development's (DFID) engagement in Ethiopia as described in our Country Assistance Plan (CAP) was developed around the Government of Ethiopia's (GoE) Poverty Reduction Strategy known as the Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (SDPRP). DFID's support will be based mainly on Direct Budget Support (DBS), with technical co-operation focusing on food security, capacity building and education, plus support to tackle HIV/AIDS.
	In the water sector, DFID is working with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to support the supply of clean water and sanitation to the drought affected population of Oromia and southern Ethiopia regions.
	DFID is actively working in partnership with a number of donors to support the Government of Ethiopia's Food Security Programme. Specifically, DFID is seeking to provide £80 million over the next three years, to the Productive Safety Net Component of the Food Security Programme. This component seeks to lift 5.1 million of the most food insecure people in Ethiopia out of the need for emergency food assistance.
	Through DBS, DFID supports the GoEs Education Sector Development Plan, which emphasises primary education. DFID works closely with the Ministry of Education and development partners to improve sector dialogue, policies and strategies in education. DFID is also working in partnership with other bilateral donors to increase teacher supply and quality and access to education for girls, and improve education about HIV/AIDS.

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Iraqi nationals are employed in reconstruction programmes funded by (a) UK and (b) EU aid.

Hilary Benn: DFID's reconstruction programme in the south has employed a number of Iraqi nationals. For example the Emergency Infrastructure Programme employed 3,000 workers to carry out the manual excavation of trenches for 120 kilometres of water mains in Basra city. DFID's Southern Iraq Employment and Services Programme (SIESP) aims to generate up to 1.75 million days of employment in Iraq's southern governorates by February 2005. DFID also finances the work of a number of non-governmental organisations (NGO's), which employ Iraqis.
	The EU has provided its contribution to Iraq through mechanisms such as the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq and NGOs. DFID does not have information on how many Iraqis have been employed as a result of these contributions.

Land Mines

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department provides to countries seeking to clear land mines within their borders; and in which countries de-mining programmes financially supported by his Department are operating.

Hilary Benn: DFID's support to international humanitarian mine action is focused on:
	Support to mine action in poor countries
	Improving the international response to mine pollution
	Developing new technologies to improve mine clearance
	Promoting the globalisation of the Mine Ban Convention
	In Financial Years 2002–03 and 2003–04 the following countries received bilateral support from the UK for mine action: Angola, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Georgia, Iraq, Northern Caucasus, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka and Sudan. In addition we are also providing support to international mine action through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) the United Nations Development Programme (UNMAS) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
	DFID's total spend on humanitarian mine action, including research and other knowledge provision projects, was £14,124,712 in 2002–03 and £13,734,582 in 2003–04.

PRIME MINISTER

Information and Communication Specialists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Prime Minister how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in his office.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave today at column 895W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Tax

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will rank the counties of England by level of council tax rises, for the periods (a) 1997–2001, (b) 2001–05, (c) 1997–2005; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Tabled as follows are ranked percentage increases in the average area B and D council tax for county areas between (a) 1997–98 and 2001–02; (b) 2001–02 and 2004–05; and (c) 1997–98 and 2004–05.
	For those county areas that were affected by local government reorganisation on 1 April 1998, the figures used for each year relate to the current county area. For example, the figures used for Essex for each year cover only the area currently covered by Essex county council, and not the areas of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, where there are now unitary authorities.
	
		1997–2001
		
			  Percentage increase in average area Band D council tax 
		
		
			 Cambridgeshire 43.9 
			 Norfolk 43.3 
			 Worcestershire 43.2 
			 Devon 41.6 
			 Oxfordshire 41.0 
			 Gloucestershire 40.3 
			 Essex 40.1 
			 Wiltshire 39.9 
			 Staffordshire 39.4 
			 North Yorkshire 37.9 
			 Kent 37.5 
			 Northumberland 37.3 
			 Cheshire 37.2 
			 Nottinghamshire 37.0 
			 East Sussex 36.7 
			 Shropshire 36.7 
			 Hertfordshire 36.5 
			 Buckinghamshire 35.9 
			 Surrey 35.2 
			 Derbyshire 34.6 
			 Suffolk 34.1 
			 Lincolnshire 33.5 
			 Cornwall 33.4 
			 Somerset 33.3 
			 Lancashire 32.1 
			 Dorset 32.0 
			 Hampshire 31.3 
			 West Sussex 30.7 
			 Northamptonshire 30.5 
			 Leicestershire 29.7 
			 Warwickshire 29.4 
			 Bedfordshire 28.4 
			 Cumbria 27.0 
			 Durham 25.7 
		
	
	
		2001–05
		
			  Percentage increase in average area Band D council tax 
		
		
			 Surrey 39.9 
			 North Yorkshire 39.4 
			 Suffolk 39.3 
			 West Sussex 38.4 
			 Devon 38.0 
			 Shropshire 37.2 
			 Hertfordshire 36.6 
			 Norfolk 35.7 
			 Dorset 35.5 
			 East Sussex 35.3 
			 Buckinghamshire 35.1 
			 Oxfordshire 34.6 
			 Somerset 34.4 
			 Cambridgeshire 34.3 
			 Gloucestershire 34.1 
			 Essex 33.9 
			 Worcestershire 33.2 
			 Hampshire 32.8 
			 Kent 32.5 
			 Northamptonshire 32.5 
			 Staffordshire 31.9 
			 Durham 31.5 
			 Bedfordshire 31.1 
			 Warwickshire 30.7 
			 Cornwall 30.6 
			 Wiltshire 30.1 
			 Leicestershire 29.5 
			 Cumbria 28.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 27.7 
			 Lincolnshire 27.2 
			 Lancashire 24.8 
			 Northumberland 24.7 
			 Derbyshire 24.6 
			 Cheshire 22.4 
		
	
	
		1997–2005
		
			  Percentage increase in average area Band D council tax 
		
		
			 Devon 95.5 
			 Norfolk 94.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 93.4 
			 North Yorkshire 92.2 
			 Worcestershire 90.8 
			 Oxfordshire 89.7 
			 Surrey 89.2 
			 Gloucestershire 88.1 
			 Essex 87.6 
			 Shropshire 87.5 
			 Suffolk 86.8 
			 Hertfordshire 86.4 
			 East Sussex 84.9 
			 Staffordshire 83.8 
			 Buckinghamshire 83.6 
			 Kent 82.2 
			 Wiltshire 82.0 
			 West Sussex 80.8 
			 Somerset 79.2 
			 Dorset 78.9 
			 Nottinghamshire 74.8 
			 Hampshire 74.3 
			 Cornwall 74.2 
			 Northamptonshire 72.9 
			 Northumberland 71.2 
			 Lincolnshire 69.7 
			 Warwickshire 69.2 
			 Bedfordshire 68.4 
			 Leicestershire 68.0 
			 Cheshire 67.9 
			 Derbyshire 67.8 
			 Durham 65.4 
			 Lancashire 64.9 
			 Cumbria 63.1

Equi Save Project

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what information his Department has received about the EU's Interreg Equi Save Atlantic Area Project; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with agriculture Ministers in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland on eligibility of breeders of rare equine species for the EU's Interreg Equi Save Project; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what steps have been taken to consult breeders of rare equine species in the United Kingdom about the EU's Interreg Equi Save Project; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which helps to co-ordinate UK interests in the European-funded Interreg initiative, received a copy of an application for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support under the Interreg IIIB Atlantic Area Programme from the French lead partner, Les Haras Nationaux (French public sector body charged with promoting and developing equine interests at regional level).
	The application indicated that there were no UK partners who would derive any financial support. There were two English associate partners with minor engagement (Exmoor Pony Society and Exmoor Ponies in Conservation).
	It is normal practice for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to liaise at official level with the Devolved Administrations over any such applications which have partners in either Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and, where appropriate, with Government Offices and other Government Departments. In the case of the Equi Save project, there were no ERDF beneficiaries in any of the UK countries. The project has now been approved by the programme.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sought clarification on the eligibility of rare equine species from the programme authorities who confirmed that they are eligible.
	Breeders of rare horses in the United Kingdom were not consulted as there were no UK ERDF beneficiaries.

Gypsies (Housing Provision)

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) he and (b) planning inspectors will require applicants for Gypsy site provision to demonstrate (i) local need, (ii) local connections with the area and (iii) both (i) and (ii) to overturn a decision against them by a local planning authority.

Keith Hill: Both the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and planning inspectors will consider appeals from Gypsies on a case by case basis taking account of material considerations such as the local assessment of the need for sites in the area and policies in the local development framework. Local connections are a lesser consideration because of changing work patterns. Local planning authorities should consider applications on the same basis and grant planning permission if appropriate.

Gypsies (Housing Provision)

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is his policy that a local authority's record in making provision for Gypsies should be taken into account when considering the need to make further provision.

Keith Hill: Where needs have been identified in a particular area through the Local Housing Needs Assessment process, local authorities will be required to formulate a strategy on how that need may be met, whether or not they have already made provision for Gypsies and Travellers in the past.

Gypsies (Housing Provision)

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is his policy that local authorities which have made little or no provision for Gypsies should be required to make significant provision in the future.

Keith Hill: The need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in a particular area will be determined through the Local Housing Needs Assessment process and, where a need has been identified, local authorities will be required to formulate a strategy which will set out how those needs will be met. Provision should be related to need, not necessarily levels of past provision.

Gypsies (Housing Provision)

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the time scale is for publication of a replacement for Circular 1/94;
	(2)  whether the replacement for Circular 1/94 will put a duty on local authorities to make adequate provision for gypsy sites;
	(3)  whether the replacement for Circular 1/94 will require all local authorities (a) to have policies relating to Gypsies in their development plans and (b) to ensure that they each make provision for Gypsies.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consult on a revised circular later this year. We will then meet stakeholders to discuss the responses received. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to bring the new circular into force in April 2005. The circular will require each local planning authority to have policies relating to Gypsies in their development plans and will also reflect changes that are being introduced as part of the Housing Bill. These place a duty on local authorities to assess the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in their area and to produce a strategy setting out how those needs will be met.

Housing (East Midlands)

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty homes there are in each local authority area in the East Midlands.

Keith Hill: The latest information on empty properties in each local authority in the East Midlands is shown in the following table. These data have been provided from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's annual Housing Investment Programme returns and Housing Corporation's annual Regulatory Statistical returns, as reported by local authorities and registered social landlords respectively.
	
		Total vacant dwellings at 1 April 2004 in local authoritiesin the East Midlands
		
			 Local authority name Number 
		
		
			 Amber Valley 1,760 
			 Ashfield 1,580 
			 Bassetlaw 1,660 
			 Blaby 1,040 
			 Bolsover 1,480 
			 Boston 930 
			 Broxtowe 1,010 
			 Charnwood 1,870 
			 Chesterfield 1,590 
			 Corby 680 
			 Daventry 990 
			 Derby 3,640 
			 Derbyshire Dales 1,970 
			 East Lindsey 1,880 
			 East Northamptonshire 1,020 
			 Erewash 990 
			 Gedling 1,390 
			 Harborough 980 
			 High Peak 900 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth 1,630 
			 Kettering 1,200 
			 Leicester (8)— 
			 Lincoln 970 
			 Mansfield 2,230 
			 Melton 380 
			 Newark and Sherwood 790 
			 North East Derbyshire 1,160 
			 North Kesteven 830 
			 North West Leicestershire 1,200 
			 Northampton 2,660 
			 Nottingham City 4,700 
			 Oadby and Wigston 460 
			 Rushcliffe 760 
			 Rutland 540 
			 South Derbyshire 640 
			 South Holland 1,260 
			 South Kesteven 1,380 
			 South Northamptonshire (8)— 
			 Wellingborough 970 
			 West Lindsey 1,850 
			 Total East Midlands 58,730 
		
	
	(8) Indicates that information is unavailable.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	ODPM's Housing Investment Programme returns and Housing Corporations Regulatory Statistical returns.

Housing Act

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he intends the provisions in part 6, chapter 1 of the Housing Act 2004 to be brought into effect.

Keith Hill: Commencement of the Right to Buy measures in part 6 of the Housing Bill is provided for in clause 253 of the Bill, as follows:
	clauses 171 and 173–180 and schedule 9 will come into effect two months after Royal Assent
	clause 181 will come into effect immediately on Royal Assent, so that the Rent to Mortgage scheme will end eight months after Royal Assent
	clauses 170, 172, and 182–185 will come into effect in England on a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

Jobs and Enterprise (Deprived Areas)

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Social Exclusion Unit's report on Jobs and Enterprise in Deprived Areas.

Phil Hope: The Social Exclusion Unit's report on Jobs and Enterprise in Deprived Areas was published on 21 September. The report contains new evidence about very local pockets of unemployment and economic inactivity that exist across the country—right down to the level of individual streets. It explains where these places are, who lives in them and why they happen.
	It sets out what more the Government will do to make sure the benefits of full employment are felt in every neighbourhood in England. This will build on the great deal of progress already made in recent years in helping people into work, regenerating deprived areas and supporting businesses.
	Although the Social Exclusion Unit has a remit for England only, the concentrations of worklessness that the report explores are also found in Scotland and Wales. The Social Exclusion Unit has worked closely with colleagues from both whilst preparing the report. This work included a visit to the 'Childcare Works' project in Glasgow, which the report highlights as a good example of how to draw together the welfare to work agenda with the National Childcare Strategy.
	Copies of the summary and main report have been placed in the Libraries and Vote Office of the House. Further copies can be obtained from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's publications on 0870 1226 236 or from the Social Exclusion Unit's website: www.socialexclusion.gov.uk.

Local Government

Janet Anderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department gives to local authorities about the participation of elected members of local authorities in decisions on (a) asset management and (b) staff redeployment.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister gives no specific guidance in relation to the participation of elected members of local authorities in decisions on asset management and staff redeployment.

Ministerial Travel

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of his journey to and from the North East on 12 October.

Phil Hope: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's visit to the North East was not made in an official capacity. Travel was conducted in accordance with Travel by Ministers.

Mobile Network Development

Richard Spring: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department plans to commission a study to assess the impact of the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development, with specific reference to how it is perceived by local authorities and the public; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned a study to assess the impact that the code has had more widely since its introduction; how local authorities have implemented the code; and how the public perceives its operation. A steering group consisting of representatives of local planning authorities, the industry and a national action group is over seeing this work. We will publish the report of this study when it is completed which will be during March 2005.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the need for regional government in England.

Nick Raynsford: The Government believe that elected regional assemblies will offer great benefits and democratic accountability for people in regions that establish them. However, we are offering a policy of choice, and no region will have an assembly forced on them.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister laid out the advantages in the White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice", in May 2002, and the people of the North East will shortly have the opportunity to have their say.

Runwell Hospital

Mark Francois: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2004, Official Report, columns 460–61W, on Runwell hospital, by what date he expects the transfer of the site to his Department to be effected.

Keith Hill: pursuant to the answer, 18 October 2004, Official Report, c. 460–1W
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is seeking to reach an agreement with the Department of Health on the terms of the transfer of the land portfolio as soon as possible. The transfer of individual sites will then follow. Sites will be transferred as and when they become vacant. Precise timing is still to be determined.

Social Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were (a) homeless and (b) on the waiting list for social housing in (i) England and (ii) each local authority in England in each year from 1994; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The information is as follows:
	(a) and (b) Information collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation and the number on the waiting list for social housing is in respect of households, rather than persons. Local authorities sometimes maintain the waiting list jointly with Housing Associations in their district. However, information is not held centrally where a Housing Association maintains a separate waiting list to the local authority.
	Current and recent years' data on Homelessness at national and regional level are published in a quarterly Statistical Release, "Statutory Homelessness: England". The Release also contains a supplementary table containing reported data at local authority level. The latest Release, published on 13 September, covers statistics up to and including the second quarter of 2004. Statistics for the third quarter of 2004 will be published on 13 December.
	(i) Estimates of the number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need as well as the number of households on the local authorities' waiting list, in England since 1994, are as follows:
	
		England
		
			  Households accepted as homeless (9) Number of households on the waiting list at 1 April (10) 
		
		
			 1994 118,490 1,122,000 
			 1995 117,490 1,087,000 
			 1996 113,590 1,062,000 
			 1997 102,000 1,021,000 
			 1998 104,630 1,020,000 
			 1999 105,370 1,039,000 
			 2000 111,340 1,039,000 
			 2001 118,610 1,039,000 
			 2002 125,330 1,093,000 
			 2003 137,440 1,264,000 
			 2004(11) — 1,427,000 
		
	
	(9) Households eligible under homelessness legislation and found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category.
	(10) Excludes tenants awaiting a transfer.
	(11) Provisional figure for 2004.
	Source:
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's PIE homelessness (quarterly) and annual Housing Investment Programme returns
	(ii) Homeless information and housing waiting list for each local authority in England for each year since 1994 has been made available in the library of the House.

South West Regional Rescue Control

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to shortlist only private bidders for the proposed South West regional rescue control centre; when he will announce the shortlist; and on what criteria he will base his decision as to who will gain a place on the shortlist.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently running a competitive procurement for fire and rescue regional control centres under the EU Restricted Services Directive. Tenders have been invited from both public and private sector. Submitted sites have been evaluated against criteria such as accessibility (to both people and services), demographics, vulnerability to threats such as flooding, and suitability for development. During the procurement process we are unable to release any information on the tenderers and their proposals to anyone who is not directly involved in the procurement process.

Emergency Services (Thames Gateway)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many additional (a) fire stations and (b) firemen and women will be required under the Government's current growth plan for an additional 120,000 houses to be built between 2003 and 2016 in the Thames Gateway.

Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government introduced a new system of integrated risk management planning by fire and rescue authorities in April this year. Under Integrated Risk Management Planning, London, Kent and Essex Fire and Rescue Authorities will be responsible for determining their own policies and standards for prevention and intervention in the light of the risks identified. It will be for these authorities to take into account the planned development and to assess and manage the risks accordingly in light of the Government agenda for the Thames Gateway.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has supplied all Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) with computer software which enables them to identify the risks in their area, to plan responses and allocate resources to fire stations to minimise these risks. This software makes use of the National Census data, the road network and details of shops, offices factories etc.

SCOTLAND

Ministers' Private Offices

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the running costs of Ministers' private offices in his Department have been in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.
	In the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000, the costs of running the ministerial private offices were not recorded separately. The costs of running the ministerial private offices of the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General after March 2000 were:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 522,721 
			 2001–02 614,146 
			 2002–03 591,886 
			 2003–04 est 514,813 
		
	
	The figures do not include accommodation costs and other overheads.

Parliamentary Constituencies

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to lay the conclusions on the new Scottish parliamentary constituency boundaries before Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Darling: I am required by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, as soon as may be after the Boundary Commission for Scotland has submitted its report to me, to lay that report before Parliament together with a draft Order in Council for giving effect, with or without modifications, to the report's recommendations.
	The Boundary Commission has not yet submitted its report. The timing is a matter for the Commission.

Theft and Fraud

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.
	The cost of theft to the office in 1999–2000 was estimated at £2,200. Since then, no cases of theft or fraud have been reported to the office.

TRANSPORT

Air Safety

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department takes to guarantee the airworthiness and safety of aircraft operated by foreign airlines and freight companies into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: International civil aviation is governed by the Chicago Convention. Under the Convention, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is responsible for establishing minimum safety standards which contracting states are required to implement. States are required to recognise the certificates issued by other contracting states unless they have reason to believe that they have not been issued in accordance with ICAO standards. ICAO also audits contracting states' aviation authorities to help identify and address any deficiencies in the implementation of international standards. The reports of these audits are made available to all contracting states.
	If we have doubts about whether an aircraft or airline complies with international safety standards we will arrange for the aircraft to be inspected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Such inspections are carried out in a format established under the European Civil Aviation Conference's (ECAC) Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAPA) programme. Reports of all ramp inspections conducted under the SAFA programme are held on a central database and are available to all ECAC states. ECAC is also finalising a system to ensure that all member states are alerted when a significant safety issue with a foreign airline is identified.
	Any airline from outside the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland which wishes to pick up or put down passengers or cargo in the UK requires a permit from the Secretary of State for Transport. It is a condition of the permit that the airline should be operated in accordance with international safety standards established by ICAO. Permits may be refused, and existing permits suspended or revoked by the Secretary of State. This may occur where there is a breach of a permit condition, which would include non-compliance with international safety standards; however action can also be taken for reasons other than safety. Permit decisions will be reviewed in the light of new information or changed circumstances.

Air Travel Services

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) levels of passenger numbers and (b) volume of freight carriage required to sustain the airports servicing the Yorkshire and Humber region following the opening of the Robin Hood airport in South Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: The Air Transport White Paper, published in December 2003, did not contain forecasts for the growth of Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, as such issues were examined in detail at the public local inquiry into its development as a civil airport. An assessment of the impact of passenger abstraction on other airports in the region has subsequently been made to inform consideration of the application for Objective 1 funding to support its development.

Air Travel Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the percentage change in real terms in the costs of (a) internal and (b) international air flights for each year from 1975 to date, taking the 1975 cost to be 100.

Charlotte Atkins: Data are not available for UK internal flights or for more than the recent past for international flights. However, the historical global trend has been of an annual average decline of 3 per cent. in real terms since 1975. Taking 1975 as 100, this would imply a current index value of about 45. More recently, the average annual decline in real terms in the average fare to EU countries since 1994 has averaged 4.5 per cent. per annum.

Aircraft Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what maximum percentage decrease he expects to be achieved in aircraft emissions by 2020 from technological advances.

Charlotte Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 June 2004, Official Report, columns 1314–1315W.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take action against those drivers who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who do not take medicine which alleviates the symptoms.

David Jamieson: Attention Deficit "Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that should be reported to DVLA and is mentioned in the "At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive" in the Behaviour Disorders section. Due to the variability in the severity of the condition, each case is considered on its merits. If DVLA are not satisfied that any symptoms likely to endanger driving are controlled satisfactorily, a licence is refused or revoked. When drivers with mental health conditions are licensed, both the driver and the GP are sent information letters pointing out the need to notify DVLA of any deterioration in the condition during the currency of the licence.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the research being undertaken by Lancashire Police on the impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on driving standards.

David Jamieson: I welcome any research relevant to road safety. Officials are discussing details of the proposed research with Lancashire Police and considering its eligibility for Department for Transport funding and its priority against other proposals. The results of any research will be considered by the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Psychiatric Disorders and Driving.

Benfleet/Fenchurch Street Rail Service

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the change in the average time for the journey by train from Benfleet Station to Fenchurch Street.

Tony McNulty: The Government do not collect statistics on average journey times from particular stations. However, the performance of c2c for the year to 30 June 2004 was 87.6 per cent. of services arriving on time, up from 85.9 per cent. for the year to 30 March 2004.

Buses

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new bus services have been created using funding from the bus service operators grant in each year since 2000; and how many of these ceased to operate in each of these years (a) in total, (b) broken down by region and (c) broken down by local authority area.

Charlotte Atkins: This information is not collected. Bus Service Operators Grant takes the form of a rebate of fuel duty paid in operating a local bus service. Payment of the grant is not dependent on whether the service is a new or an existing one, hence no data is collated which would enable us to differentiate. In addition, the grant is only a contribution to operating costs and, while significant, does not provide the main source of funding for services.
	Information on the number of local bus routes registered with the Traffic Commissioners, and the number of registrations withdrawn each year, is published in the Commissioners' Annual Reports.

Disability Discrimination Act

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 on (a) bus, (b) coach and (c) rail services in England; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 18 October 2004
	There has been significant progress in making public transport accessible to disabled people through regulations made under the Disability Discrimination Act. This has been widely welcomed by disabled people and our forthcoming Disability Discrimination Bill will further strengthen legislation in this area.
	As a result of the accessibility regulations we have made, many more disabled people including wheelchair users, are now able to use public transport. Already around one third of the bus fleet used on scheduled services nationwide is accessible, rising to 90 per cent. in London, and almost 1,900 new rail vehicles have entered service which meet the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations and there will be over 700 more within the next 18 months. New coaches used on scheduled services will have to provide wheelchair access from 1 January 2005.

Drink Driving

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many road traffic accidents were caused by drink driving in each year since 1997 (a) in total and (b) broken down by local authority area;
	(2)  how many (a) car drivers and (b) passengers died in drink driving related accidents in (i) December and (ii) January of each year since 1997 (A) in total and (B) broken down by local authority area.

David Jamieson: Estimated numbers of drink drive accidents in Great Britain are calculated on a national basis and shown in the following table for years since 1997. Estimates are not made for the number of drink drive accidents in individual local authorities, nor are estimates available for drink drive casualties among different types of road user by month of the year.
	
		Estimates of accidents involving illegal alcohol levels(Great Britain)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2003(12) 12,400 
			 2002 13,150 
			 2001 12,270 
			 2000 11,800 
			 1999 11,050 
			 1998 10,100 
			 1997 10,710 
		
	
	(12) Provisional.
	Source:
	Road Casualties Great Britain: 2003 Annual Report.

GNER

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much GNER has invested in York station in each year since its franchise began.

Tony McNulty: The information is not held centrally. However, I have asked GNER to write my hon. Friend with the information.

Government Grants

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which funding streams have been allocated by his Department using a funding formula which includes rankings or scores on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000; and if he will list the amount of funding allocated in such a way (a) nationally by the Department and (b) to all Government sponsored bodies reporting to the Department.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport used the Index of Multiple Deprivation to inform allocations in three different programmes:
	The Index was used to select 15 authorities that were targeted for funding to improve road safety in their disadvantaged areas. The 15 authorities all have wards in the 10 per cent. most deprived wards nationally. The funds for the DfT's Neighbourhood Road Safety Initiative are for a limited period of three years (2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06).
	In May 2001 the Government announced that they would spend £9 million on Kerbcraft, a phased national pilot programme of child pedestrian training schemes for children aged 5–7 years old. The money is being made available to English local authorities demonstrating deprivation and a child casualty problem. The grants have been awarded in three tranches, each tranche running for a total of three years, with the final tranche ending in 2007. 103 schemes in 64 English local authorities have been selected.
	The Index of Multiple Deprivation was one of the factors taken, into account in assessing bids to the three annual Urban Bus Challenge competitions held in the period 2001–03. A total of £53 million was awarded to local authorities as a result of these competitions.
	No Government sponsored bodies reporting to the Department for Transport have reported the use of the Index in determining the allocation of funding.

King's Cross

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress with his review of the Northern Ticket Hall phase of the redevelopment project at King's Cross.

Tony McNulty: The review by the Department's advisers, Mott Parsons Gibb, has been completed and Ministers are currently considering the final report.

London Transport (Olympic Bid)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to ensure that London is able to cope with the increased transport needs that a 2012 Olympics would bring.

Tony McNulty: London 2012 will submit the bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the International Olympic Committee by 15 November. The bid will set out how transport will be provided, making the most of the 10 railway lines which will serve the site of the proposed Olympic Park, planned investment in London's transport network and additional measures to increase capacity for the Games.

Milford Haven (Liquefied Gas Storage)

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with the Milford Haven Port Authority in respect of the proposed development by Petroplus of a liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions his officials have had with Milford Haven Port Authority in respect to the drawing up of a risk assessment for the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with the International Maritime Organisation in respect to the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment his Department has made of the offshore risks posed by the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what plans he has to raise the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility with (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the Environment Agency, (c) the Countryside Council for Wales and (d) TRANSEC; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Milford Haven Port Authority is an independent statutory undertaker and the Department does not have a role in the decision-making process in respect of the Petroplus development. Our only contact with the Authority has been to obtain information, given parliamentary interest in the development.
	We understand that risk assessments have been undertaken for the project by the Port Authority and the developer and have been accepted by others involved. The Department has not been involved in these assessments. Milford Haven Port Authority has an oil spill contingency plan approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after appropriate consultation with other statutory bodies. The plan will need to be reviewed in the light of the new development.
	The Department has had no contact with the International Maritime Organisation. The existing Port Facility Security Plan will need to be reviewed and approved by the Department's Transport Security team.
	The Petroplus project has had to obtain consents, not just from the planning authority but also from the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales and to the Port Authority's knowledge has satisfied them in all respects.

MOT

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many MOT testing stations in the UK are trialling a new computer system; which stations are involved; what reports he has received about delays being caused by the new equipment; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 15 October 2004
	43 MOT testing stations including five operated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are trialling a new computerised service for administering the MOT testing scheme. The trials involve volunteer testing stations recording data on MOT tests both electronically and manually as well as testing other important aspects of the computerised service. Some testing stations have also experienced difficulties operating the new system, resulting in longer test times.
	Further trials are programmed within a wider group of testing stations later this year. These will test changes to software to address issues found during the initial trials and the computerised system's conformity with contracted service levels designed to ensure MOT tests are not delayed.

Motorways

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what average daily volume of traffic passed (a) between junctions 11 and 20 of the M6 motorway, (b) along similar lengths of the M6 motorway either side of junctions 11 to 20 and (c) along other comparable parts of the motorway network in the last period for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The figures in the following table provided by the Highways Agency show two-way flows (Average Annual Daily Traffic-AADT-for 2003 unless otherwise indicated) along the section of motorway as indicated.
	
		(a) M6 between junctions 11 and 20
		
			 Junctions Flow AADT 
		
		
			 J12-J13 104400 
			 J13-J14 105800 
			 J14-J15 99000 
			 J15-J16 107700 
			 J16-J17 119200 
			 J17-J18 122000 
			 J18-J19 121400 
			 J19-J20 103200 
		
	
	
		(b) along lengths of the M6 motorway either side ofjunctions 11 to 20 M6 from M1 Junction 11
		
			 Junctions Flow AADT 
		
		
			 M1-J1 69100 
			 Jl-J2 76300 
			 J2-J3 106600 
			 J3-J4 102800 
			 J4-J4A 98100 
			 J4A-J5 142900 
			 J5-J6 118400 
			 J6-J7 132600 
			 J7-J8 (East) 121100 
			 J8 East-J8 West 97200 
			 J8 West-J9 159200 
			 J9-J10 150100 
			 J10-J10A 140000 
			 J10A-J11 99500 
		
	
	
		M6 Junction 1931
		
			 Junctions Flow AADT 
		
		
			 J19-J20 103200 
			 J20-J21 (13)148300 
			 J21-J21A 129900 
			 J21A-J22 99100 
			 J22-J23 101000 
			 J23-J24 98100 
			 J24-J25 119900 
			 J25-J6 93000 
			 J27-J28S of Services 85200 
			 J28-J29 90500 
			 J29-J30 76200 
			 J30-J31 139600 
		
	
	(13) Year 2002 as figures not available for 2003
	(c) Other comparable parts of the motorway network.
	It is not easy to indentify other parts of the motorway network which might be comparable without a specified set of criteria for comparison.

Motorways

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has put in place to collect data on the overall time gained or lost by motorists passing through the West Midlands as a result of the operation of the M6 Toll road.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency, together with local authority partners and Midlands Expressway Ltd., have set up a programme of collecting and reporting information on traffic flows on the M6 Toll road and the adjacent road network since the road opened in December 2003. Assessment of before and after impacts will be reported after three months, 12 months and five years of opening.

Motorways

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effects on time costs for motorists travelling (a) on the M42 between junctions 3 and 9, (b) on the M6 in Warwickshire between the M1 and the M6 toll road and (c) on the M6 in Staffordshire between junctions 11A and 13 as a result of the changes in traffic levels arising from the opening of the M6 toll road.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency's three month report identifying the impacts of M6 Toll indicates that the M6 Toll has removed a significant level of traffic from the existing M6 which has improved operating conditions and journey times. A full breakdown of time savings can be found in the Report (M6 Toll Traffic Monitoring Studythree month Traffic Impact Study Report) which is in the House of Commons Library and on the Highways Agency's website. However, these time savings have not been converted into 'time costs'.

Motorways

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the suitability of the operating contract for the M6 Toll road as a model for future toll road operations.

David Jamieson: If the Government were to proceed with any future toll road proposal, it would determine what delivery arrangements were most appropriate.

Motorways

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish his updated assessment of the operation of the M6 Toll road and its effects on traffic volumes on the M6 motorway.

David Jamieson: In June this year the Highways Agency published a report covering the first three months impacts of the M6 Toll road. The Highways Agency and other interested parties including Midland Expressway Limited continue to monitor the M6 Toll and its effects on the surrounding road network. It is the intention to publish a second report, approximately 12 months after the opening of the M6 Toll, in December 2003. This will provide a more detailed evaluation of the before and after situation.

Railways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many points failures there were between Swindon and Paddington in each month of the last two years for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail will respond directly to my hon. Friend.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is in respect of the future level of rail fares relative to the overall inflation rate within the economy.

Tony McNulty: In the Secretary of State's statement to the House on 19 June 2003 following the outcome of the Strategic Rail Authority's Fares Review, he stated that the SRA had concluded that regulated fares should continue, but they should rise by RPI plus 1 per cent. from January 2004. Rises in unregulated fares are a commercial matter for the train operating companies.

Railways

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he expects to announce a decision in relation to the future of the Integrated Kent Rail Franchise;
	(2)  if he will provide support for the development of a fast rail link between East Kent and London, including Manston Airport.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority wrote to stakeholders in July letting them know that the Invitation to Tender and Stakeholder Briefing Document would be issued in the autumn.
	With regard to the provision of services to Manston Airport, the SRA has not as yet received any proposals for a new station in the vicinity of Manston Airport and any such proposals will need to be the subject of detailed analysis as set out in the SRA New Stations document published in September. Funding for such a station will also need to be considered from the outset.

Railways

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much money the Government have invested in the rail network since 1 May 1997;
	(2)  how much money the Government expect to spend in improvements to the rail network over the next five years;
	(3)  how much the Government plan to invest in improving the safety of railways over the next five years;
	(4)  how much it will cost to maintain the current standard of safety on railways over the next five years.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth on 19 October 2004, Official Report, column 611W.

Railways

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to refurbish (a) High Wycombe station and (b) Marlow station; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: High Wycombe station is managed on a day-to-day basis by Chiltern Railways, and Marlow station by First Great Western Link. As part of their franchise agreements these train operating companies are required to maintain a minimum standard of facilities at stations in terms of waiting, accommodation, the provision of information, and cleaning and maintenance.
	At High Wycombe station, platform extension works to allow for seven car trains are being finalised. Work to replace the existing station subway with a new footbridge and lifts is due for completion in 2005. Further station redevelopment proposals (including a new booking hall and increased car-parking facilities) are being developed in conjunction with the local authority.
	There are no plans to refurbish Marlow station.

Railways

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total subsidy was from the Strategic Rail Authority to Connex for the South Eastern franchise in each year of operation.

Tony McNulty: The Connex South Eastern rail franchise commenced on 13 October 1996 and was terminated on 8 November 2003. The net franchise payments for each year are set out in Appendix 3 of the Strategic Rail Authority's Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Railways

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of track in the rail network have been (a) modernised and (b) replaced since privatisation.

Tony McNulty: Network Rail advises that for each year between 199697 and 200304 the total length of track where re-railing has been carried out is as follows:
	
		
			  Total track re-laid in miles 
		
		
			 199697 244 
			 199798 283 
			 199899 247 
			 19992000 321 
			 200001 661 
			 200102 611 
			 200203 628 
			 200304 871

South West Trains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what representations he has received concerning the proposed changes to the South West Trains timetables from 12 December;
	(2)  what amendments the Strategic Rail Authority has granted to the South West Trains Public Service Requirement to allow them to operate a new timetable from 12 December;
	(3)  how many departures from the terms of the South West Trains (SWT) Public Service Requirement will take place when the proposed new SWT timetable commences on 12 December;
	(4)  what consultation South West Trains has undertaken with (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) his Department concerning the proposed departures from the Public Service Requirement;
	(5)  what his policy is on allowing train operating companies to (a) depart from obligations contained within the Passenger Service Requirement (PSR), (b) depart from the PSR obligation without prior approval from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and (c) depart from the PSR obligations prior to the SRA being able to undertake a full stakeholder and public consultation process; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what discussions he (a) has recently had and (b) intends to have with the Strategic Rail Authority about future compliance by South West Trains with its public service requirement;
	(7)  what powers the Strategic Rail Authority has to issue a derogation to extend maximum journey times specified within a public service requirement without consultation with (a) stakeholders and (b) the general public;
	(8)  what plans the Strategic Rail Authority has to (a) consult (i) stakeholders and (ii) the general public about amendments or derogations to the South West Trains' public service requirement and (b) publish proposed changes to South West Trains' public service requirement;
	(9)  which bodies the Strategic Rail Authority recently consulted about the changes required to public service requirements (PSR) in order to allow the proposed new South West Trains timetable to conform to the terms of the PSR.

Tony McNulty: The Secretary of State has no contractual relationship with Train Operating Companies (TOCs). The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has responsibility for managing franchise agreements with TOCs under Directions and Guidance from the Secretary of State, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.
	TOCs cannot depart from the Passenger Service Requirement (PSR) without SRA approval. The SRA has powers to grant derogations from PSRs. It is not specifically obliged to consult on these but is expected generally to consult to an appropriate level those affected by the exercise of its functions and normally does so.
	The SRA requires TOCs to demonstrate that they have consulted those affected by proposed timetable changes. South West Trains (SWT) has consulted widely with local authorities and rail user groups about the proposed timetable as well as consulting the SRA about associated proposed departures from the PSR. It has not been necessary for SWT to consult the Department.
	The Secretary of State has general discussions periodically with the SRA about a range of issues. The Secretary of State has received no representations about the proposed changes to the SWT timetables from 12 December 2004. The SRA has consulted affected local authorities and Rail Passenger Committees which represent passengers about proposed PSR changes. The consultees are listed in the table.
	The SRA is considering a request from SWT, to grant temporary derogations to allow implementation of the 12 December 2004 timetable. A summary of these requests for derogations was sent to the affected MPs, including the hon. Member, in a letter from the SRA dated 17 September 2004. A copy of the summary has been placed in the Library of the House.
	
		Bodies consulted by the SRA
		
			 Councils  
		
		
			 Arun district council Hampshire county council 
			 Basingstoke and Deane borough council Plymouth city council 
			 Bath and North East Somerset council Poole borough council 
			 Bournemouth borough council Portsmouth city council 
			 Bracknell Forest council Purbeck district council 
			 Brighton and Hove city council Reading borough council 
			 Bristol city council Royal borough of Kingston upon Thames 
			 Chichester district council Runnymede borough council 
			 Christchurch borough council Salisbury district council 
			 Devon county council Somerset county council 
			 Dorset county council South Hams district council 
			 East Devon district council South Somerset district council 
			 East Dorset district council Southampton city council 
			 East Hampshire district council Spelthorne district council 
			 Eastleigh borough council Surrey county council 
			 Elmbridge borough council Surrey Valley district council 
			 Epsom and Ewell borough council Teignbridge district council 
			 Exeter city council Test Valley borough council 
			 Fareham borough council The Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 
			 Gosport borough council Torbay borough council 
			 Hart district council Wandsworth council 
			 Hampshire county council Waverley borough council 
			 Havant borough council West Dorset district council 
			 London borough of Hounslow West Sussex county council 
			 London borough of Lambeth Weymouth and Portland council 
			 London borough of Merton Wiltshire county council 
			 London borough of Richmond Winchester city council 
			 London Borough of Sutton Woking borough council 
			 Mole Valley district council Wokingham district council 
			 New Forest district council Worthing borough council 
			 North Dorset district council  
		
	
	Other bodies
	Joint Strategic Planning Unit (for the six Unitary Authorities in the former administrative County of Berkshire)
	London Transport Users Committee
	Rail Passengers Committee for Southern England
	Rail Passengers Committee for Western England
	Transport for London

Transport Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list grants his Department has made for transport services in Southend in each of the last three years.

Charlotte Atkins: Grant has been paid by the Department to Southend-on-Sea borough council for half the costs of its major transport scheme included in its Local Transport Plan. The figures are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Amount (000) 
		
		
			 200102 250 
			 200203 1000 
			 200304 2000 
		
	
	In addition, the Department has given support to borrowing for the balance of these costs and for integrated transport schemes and block maintenance of highways in Southend-on-Sea. The total figures for these are:
	
		
			 Financial year Amount (000) 
		
		
			 200102 4608 
			 200203 4742 
			 200304 4680

Transport Services

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Government grant the City of York has received for transport schemes in each year since the unitary authority was established.

Charlotte Atkins: The table as follows shows the total amount of Government grant City of York council has received for all transport related issues in each year since the formation of the unitary authority in April 1996.
	
		 million
		
			  Transport Policies and Programme/Local Transport Plan Capital Funding   
			  Grant Non-grant Rural Bus Subsidy grant Rural Bus Challenge Countryside Agency Strategic Rail Authority 
		
		
			 199697 1.284 2.056 0 0 0 0 
			 199798 0.706 1.506 0 0 0 0 
			 199899 0.168 0.959 0.073 0.180 0 0 
			 19992000 0.338 1.645 0.073 0 0 0 
			 200001 0 2.262 0.073 0.236 0 0 
			 200102 0 5.995 0.093 0 0 0 
			 200203 0 6.155 0.107 0 0.007 0 
			 200304 0 7.881 0.109 0 0.044 0 
			 200405 0 6.302 0.123 0 0.041 1.600 
			 Total 2.496 34.761 0.651 0.416 0.092 1.600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Transport Policies and Programme/Local Transport Capital funding to local authorities covers all aspects of transport (e.g. maintenance, road safety and public transport). Historically this funding has been allocated partly in the form of grant (Transport Supplementary Grant or TSG) and partly by means of borrowing approval (Supplementary Credit Approvals or SCA and Annual Capital Guideline or ACG). Since the introduction of the Prudential system of finance in the 200405 financial year, borrowing approval is now in the form of Supported Capital Expenditure (SCE).
	It is for the local authority to set priorities and allocate funds accordingly for transport
	from its Single Capital Pot budget.
	2. In addition, the local authority receives Revenue Support Grant (RSG) from the Government each year. This is a block allocation for all council services, which includes support for transport schemes; however, it is not possible to identify specific allocations for transport schemes from within the RSG allocation.

Transport and Works Act

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to bring forward proposals to amend the Transport and Works Act 1992.

David Jamieson: We are changing some of the secondary legislation made under the Act, in order to streamline and modernise the system for obtaining Orders authorising guided transport systems. New inquiries procedure rules took effect in August, and we are currently preparing new procedure rules for making applications and objections.

Travel Statistics

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how far the average person living in an English (a) urban and (b) rural area travelled each year in (i) 1979, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2003.

Charlotte Atkins: The National Travel Survey provides the data requested, shown in the following table.
	
		Miles
		
			 England 197879 199698 200203 
		
		
			 Distance per person per year: 
			 Urban 4,653 6,393 6,564 
			 Rural 6,411 9,430 9,628 
			 All areas 4,899 6,716 6,844 
		
	
	Urban areas are those with settlements of 3,000 or more people. Rural areas are the remainder.

Two-way Radios

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of road traffic accidents involving a driver using a hand-held two-way radio that have occurred in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not available.

Two-way Radios

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the use of two-way radios is not included in the legislation banning the use of hand-held mobile phones whilst driving.

David Jamieson: The Department reported in June 2003 on the public consultation on mobile phones and driving. Responses to the consultation pointed out that the use of such radios over many years had not resulted in road safety concerns. We accepted that the use of a 'press-to-talk' two-way radio was likely to have a lower risk than a hand-held mobile phone because it permits a one-way conversation only while a button is pressed, keeping messages short.
	The consultation document and decision letter are available on-line at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft index.hcst?n=101991=2

Vehicle Excise Duty

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many vehicles in York reduced vehicle excise duty is paid because they have smaller engines; and how many are exempt from VED because they are old vehicles.

David Jamieson: The information requested is as follows:
	
		York Unitary Authority
		
			  Full rate VED Reduced rate VED VED age exempt 
		
		
			 Cars 32,877 20,719  
			 Motorcycles and motor tricycles 1,696 3,417  
			 Total 34,573 24,136 842

Weapons Grade Plutonium (Transportation)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what his policy is on the transportation of weapons grade plutonium by (a) road, (b) rail, (c) air, (d) inland waterway and (e) sea; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to ban the seaborne transportation of weapons grade plutonium from United Kingdom waters;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy to seek international agreement to ban the transportation of weapons grade plutonium in international waters for commercial purposes;
	(4)  what risk assessment is undertaken by his Department for the transportation of weapons grade plutonium in United Kingdom registered cargo vessels.

David Jamieson: Transport by all modes of all radioactive material for civil use, including plutonium, is permitted subject, inter alia, to national and international regulation based upon the International Atomic Energy Agency's publication Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (TS-R-1) which is intended to establish standards of safety which provide an acceptable level of control of the radiation, criticality and thermal hazards to persons, property and the environment that are associated with the transport of radioactive material.
	The transport of radioactive material in UK registered ships is subject to the safety requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (the EMDG Code) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and, where applicable, the IMO's International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on Board Ships (the INF Code).
	Security, as distinct from safety, in the transport of nuclear material is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who is advised by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security, which is responsible for the assessment of the potential threats posed to any shipment of nuclear material on any UK registered vessel and must be satisfied that adequate precautions are taken to prevent theft or sabotage.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Coal-related Respiratory Diseases

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average administrative transaction cost incurred by the Government is for settling each case relating to compensation for coal-related respiratory diseases.

Nigel Griffiths: The average Unit costs per claim for Iron Mountain (39), ATOS Origin COPD (758), ATOS Origin Spirometry (85) and Business Healthcare (5), and adding to solicitors fees for COPD per offer made (1,427) and IRISC costs apportioned by number of staff dedicated to working on COPD and then calculated over offers made (393).

Fuel Generation (Research and Development)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on research and development in (a) nuclear energy and (b) wave power in each year since 1974; and what the subsidy provided to (i) operational nuclear power plants and (ii) wave energy power generators was in each year.

Mike O'Brien: Between 1976 to 1983 around 17 million was spent on wave energy research and development under the UK Department of Energy's Wave Energy Programme.
	Since 1999 the UK has supported research into wave energy under the DTI's Technology Programme. The table gives levels of expenditure on wave energy research and development since 1999:
	
		Spend on Wave research by financial year from 199899
		
			  000 
		
		
			 199899 91 
			 19992000 11 
			 200001 331 
			 200102 662 
			 200203 748 
			 200304 3104 
			 Total 4,947 
		
	
	The main form of support for all renewable technologies is the Renewables Obligation (RO), which provides a stable and long term market for renewable electricity. Electricity generation from wave technologies is eligible for the RO.
	On 2 August the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a new 50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund. The new funding will be primarily focused on supporting marine renewables developers through the pre-commercial demonstration phase.
	Expenditure by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) on wave and tidal technology research is given in the table:
	
		
			 Financial Year 000 
		
		
			 199899 0 
			 19992000 0 
			 200001 184,599 
			 200102 490,693 
			 200203 471,694 
			 200304 806,226 
		
	
	Expenditure by the EPSRC on nuclear research is given in the table:
	
		Nuclear Research
		
			  000 
		
		
			 199899 81,000 
			 19992000 62,000 
			 200001 127,562 
			 200102 324,879 
			 200203 307,195 
			 200304 212,239 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures from EPSRC dating back to 1974 could not be provided without disproportionate cost.
	Figures for direct Government expenditure (but not including spending by the Research Councils) on nuclear fission are given in the table.
	
		Nuclear Fission
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199192 73.5 
			 199293 69.2 
			 199394 60.9 
			 199495 12.5 
			 199596 6 
			 199697 9.3 
			 199798 1 
			 199899 1.6 
			 19992000 2.5 
			 200001 0 
			 200102 2 
			 200203 2.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure in support of Meteorological Office emergency response arrangements currently accounts for approximately 2.1 million. Figures dating back to 1974 could not be supplied without disproportionate cost.
	2. The Government concluded in 1992 that the continued funding of R and D for the UK's fast breeder reactor programme would not be a priority beyond 1993. This decision is reflected in the reducing R and D figures.
	Figures for nuclear fusion RD dating back to 1974 are given in the table:
	
		UK Government expenditure on Fusion(14)
		
			   million 
		
		
			 197475 4.3 
			 197576 5.7 
			 197677 6.6 
			 197778 7.3 
			 197879 8.3 
			 197980 10.5 
			 198081 11.4 
			 198182 17.3 
			 198283 12.5 
			 198384 14.1 
			 198485 18.9 
			 198586 21.1 
			 198687 23.1 
			 198788 22 
			 198889 24.1 
			 198990 24.1 
			 199091 21.9 
			 199192 20.1 
			 199293 16.3 
			 199394 16.0 
			 199495 15.9 
			 199596 15.7 
			 199697 12.1 
			 199798 16.6 
			 199899 12.6 
			 19992000 14.3 
			 200001 17.0 
			 200102 14.4 
			 200203 14.6 
			 200304 15.6 
		
	
	(14) Figures up to 198586 are from UKAEA's annual report and may not necessarily be the same as UK Government expenditure on fusionfor example, the rise in 198182 is due at least in part to fusion's share of the writing off of capital assets across UKAEA.
	Notes:
	1. Figures from 199697 to 200102 are from the Fusion Programme Letter funded by DTI and for 200203 and 200304 are the allocations from OST and EPSRC.
	2. The dip and peak in 199697 and 200001 were due to changes in invoicing arrangements. The peak and dip in 199798 and 199899 were due to expenditure being brought forward across the end of the Financial Year at DTI's request.
	3. UK Government funding for Fusion provides (a) the UK contribution to the UK's domestic fusion programme (in addition Euratom fund the programme at typically 25 per cent. of the gross cost, though the rate has changed over the years) and (b) the UK's financial contribution to JET. The JET project formally started in 1978 (though there had been a European design team at Culham before this).
	4. The UK's indirect contribution to the European fusion programme, via central European Union funding for the Euratom Framework Programme, is excluded.
	There is funding for nuclear related research through the EC. The UK proportion of the moneys contributed from the EC budget to nuclear research could not be separated. EC funding in nuclear research is detailed in the table:
	
		Payment appropriations from EC Budget to Euratom and to the European Commission's joint research centre 19912003
		
			 Million euros JRC Euratom 
		
		
			 1991 261  
			 1992 257  
			 1993 257  
			 1994 269  
			 1995 240 156 
			 1996 234 235 
			 1997 232 261 
			 1998 236 176 
			 1999 243 426 
			 2000 259 173 
			 2001 249 187 
			 2002 250 200 
			 2003 266 219 
			 2004 337 172 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. EC budget payments to Euratom began in 1995.
	2. Euratom figures are payment appropriations taken from EC budget documentation and cover spending on the specific programme (Euratom) for research and training in the field of nuclear energy under policy area 8 (research) of the budget. 2004 figure is the budgeted amount. Figures for previous years are outturns.
	3. JRC figures are payment appropriations taken from EC budget documentation and cover spending on the specific programme (Euratom) for research and training in the field of nuclear energy under policy area 10 (direct research) of the budget. 2004 figure is the budgeted amount. Figures for previous years are outturns. Currently nuclear expenditure accounts for approximately 28 of the JRC's budget.
	4. RC figures dating back to 1974 could not be provided without disproportionate cost.
	Nuclear subsidies
	Available figures for nuclear subsidies are given in the table. Figures are based on the premium received by Nuclear Electric plc over and above the market price for electricity in the period 199096. Figures dating back to 1974 could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
	No Government investment or subsidy has been paid in years since 1997 toward the production of nuclear power or to the development, planning or construction of nuclear power stations.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199091 1,265 
			 199192 798 
			 199293 864 
			 199394 895 
			 199495 892 
			 199596 699 
			 199697 0 
			 199899 0 
			 199900 0 
			 200001 0 
			 200102 0 
			 200203 0 
		
	
	The Government are supporting the restructuring of British Energy on the terms set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement of 28 November 2002, although no further drawings can be made on the Government's loan facility to British Energy following the European Commission's decision on 22 September 2004 to approve the restructuring aid to British Energy.

R and D Clusters

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many research and development clusters or techiums were established in each of the last 10 years, broken down by type; and how many are proposed for the next three years, broken down by type.

Mike O'Brien: We do not classify clusters in this way so do not hold this information. Research and development activities to support a strong innovation base, are just one element of a successful cluster.

Microgeneration

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what practical support the Government gives to the microgeneration of energy; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Government are committed to publishing a strategy for the promotion of microgeneration by April 2006 under the Energy Act 2004. We will be working closely with interested parties to develop a suitable strategy before putting it to a full public consultation.
	The Government already helps the microgeneration industry in a variety of different ways:
	25 million of grants provided under the Major PV demonstration programme with a further 10 million provided to support large scale and domestic field trials. The Major PV demonstration programme is to be extended for another year with the provision of an additional 6 million worth of funding.
	10 million of support given to support household and community renewables under the Clear Skies initiative, with an extra 2.5 million recently announced to fund a one-year extension of the scheme.
	In budget 2004 the Chancellor committed to a reduction in VAT on microCHP generators to 5 per cent., provided that field trials being carried out by the Carbon Trust are successful. The same budget introduced a reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent. for ground source heat pumps.
	The DTI's New and Renewable Energy RD programme has an annual budget of 19 million that helps to support the development of a variety of technologies Government and industry are working together under the auspices of the Distributed Generation Co-ordination Group to look at removing institutional and regulatory barriers to the introduction of microgeneration in Great Britain.

Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by her Department and its agencies in Warrington since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department does not collect expenditure information at this level and such data could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	The Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PES A) published each year by HM Treasury presents public expenditure outturn by country and region. The latest PESA (Cm6201) was published in April 2004 and includes data for 200203, including an analysis of the Department's spend by region. Similar data for 2003/04 should be available in 2005.

Women Workers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department is taking in conjunction with other Departments to encourage more women to return to work, with particular reference to those over 50 years old; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We recognise the barriers women face in returning to work and consequently we have introduced a raft of measures to help ease this transition. These include New Deal for Partners, Lone Parents and 50+, new rights for working parents, a national childcare strategy and tax credits and financial support as part of the Lifelong Learning programme.
	Women returners will be helped by reforms in the government's Skills Strategy, including the new learner entitlement for those without qualifications, better learner support, and better Information Advice and Guidance. Steps have already been taken to improve services for adults such as the University for Industry (Ufi)/learndirect national advice service. DTI is also taking forward a strategy to improve women's representation in science, engineering and technology, including a resource centre with a specific women returners project.
	The Government are keen to ensure that everybody can access learning and qualifications and this is why the Access to Learning funds prioritise groups of students, like mature students who may have existing financial commitments, when allocating the funding. Other forms of financial support available are Career Development Loans.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Tomlinson Report

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the implications of the Tomlinson Report for Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: The Tomlinson Report applies only to England. However, the proposals touch on a range of issues that are already being addressed in Northern Ireland through the revised curriculum and the new post-primary arrangements.
	The Department of Education, and the Department for Education and Learning, will be working very closely with the Northern Ireland Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) to assess, in due course, the implications of the Tomlinson Report and what actions may be appropriate in local circumstances.

Equi Save

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information his Department has received about the EU's Interreg Equi Save Atlantic Area Project; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland has received the following information on the Equi Save Atlantic Area project from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	The project was successful in securing ERDF support at the Interreg IIIB Atlantic Area Programme Steering Committee held on 14 and 15 October 2004. The project's lead partner is a French public sector body (Les Haras Nationnaux). There are no UK partners with a financial input to this project.

Equi Save

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will institute discussions with his opposite number in the Irish Republic on possible benefits to breeders in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic of the Kerry Bug Pony, and other rare breeds of horses, of attracting funds under the EU's Interreg Equi Save Atlantic Area Project; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Equi Save Atlantic Area project received approval for ERDF support under the Interreg IIIB Atlantic Area Community Initiative, at the Atlantic Area Programme Steering Committee held on 14 and 15 October 2004. One of the project partners is from the Republic of Ireland and therefore the Republic of Ireland will benefit financially from this Programme. However, Northern Ireland is not involved in the project at partner level and as a result, project funds will not be made available to Northern Ireland. As a result, I do not intend initiating contact with my Irish counterpart on the subject of this project.

TREASURY

Teenage Pregnancy

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of pregnancies per thousand population in girls aged (a) 14, (b) 15 and (c) 16 years was in the last period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Frank Field, dated 21 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rate of pregnancies per thousand population in girls aged (a) 14 (b) 15 and (c) 16 years is in the last period for which figures are available. (192769)
	The most recent year for which conception statistics for individual years of age are available is 2001.
	Figures requested are given in the table below.
	
		Conceptions at ages 14, 15 and 16, England and Wales, 2001
		
			 Age Number Rate(15) 
		
		
			 14 1,890 5.8 
			 15 5,613 17.4 
			 16 13,103 40.4 
		
	
	(15) Rates per 1,000 female population of the same age.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Economic Policy Committee: working party on reduced compositions met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by (A) the EU and (B) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Economic Policy Committee (EPC) met formally six times in Brussels during the Greek Presidency of the EU and discussed a wide range of economic and structural reform issues, including, inter alia, setting the new Broad Economic Policy Guidelines to provide the overarching framework for economic policy coordination in the EU for 200305; the key structural challenges facing the then acceding countries. The UK Government were represented on each occasion by a Treasury official.
	The above mentioned and other reports adopted by the EPC are available on the Committee's website at:
	http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy finance/epc/epc en.htm.
	In addition, where relevant, the results of the Committee's work in preparing the ECOFIN Council are reported in the Council's Conclusions and press releases.

EU Economic Reform

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the United Kingdom is doing to promote the Lisbon Agenda.

Stephen Timms: The Government are committed to economic reform at home and in Europe, and my recent answer of 4 October 2004, Official Report, columns 1790- 1791W summarised the measures the Government are taking to increase employment and productivity in the UK. These issues were also debated on the Floor of the House on 13 September 2004.
	As set out during that debate, the UK Government remain a strong advocate of economic reform in Europe, and continue to work closely with other member states and the European Commission to promote structural reform, including by taking forward the January 2004 Four Presidencies initiative on regulatory reform and the principle recommendations contained in the spring 2004 joint statements with France and Germany on promoting enterprise and innovation. The Government's priorities were set out in their February 2004 Progress Report on economic reform and in their recently published submission to Wim Kok's high-level group providing a mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy.

Gangmaster Licensing Authority

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the total number of 46ACU forms returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit during the last three financial years, (b) the total number of ACU2 forms returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit during the last three full financial years, (c) the total amount of payments made to gangmasters and employment agencies as declared by the users of gang labour and employment agency labour on their returned 46ACU forms for each of the last three financial years and (d) the (i) estimated amount of tax and national insurance contributions that should have been paid and (ii) the actual amount of tax and national insurance contributions paid by the gangmasters and employment agencies detailed in the 46ACU forms and the ACU2 forms returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit during the last three financial years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) In the year ended 5 April 2004, approximately 800 completed forms 46ACU were returned to the Inland Revenue. Details are not immediately available for earlier years and it would be disproportionately costly to obtain this information.
	(b) The completion and return of forms ACU2 is voluntary. The Inland Revenue do not have a record of the total number of forms returned for the year ended 5 April 2004, but as they are sent with forms 46ACU they estimate it to be at least 800. Details are not immediately available for earlier years and it would be disproportionately costly to obtain this information.
	(c) The totals of payments shown on forms 46ACU were 184.2 million for 200203 and 243.8 million for 200304. Details are not available for 200102.
	(d) It would be disproportionately costly to provide this information.

Inheritance Tax

John Butterfill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of raising the upper limit of the inheritance tax nil rate band to (a) 500,000, (b) 526,000 and (c) 1,000,000.

Dawn Primarolo: The full year cost of raising the inheritance tax nil rate band threshold to (a) 500,000, (b) 526,000 and (c) 1 million would be 1.6 billion, 1.7 billion and 2.5 billion respectively in 200405 terms.

Marine Stewardship

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what future levels of expenditure the Crown Estate plans to spend on marine stewardship programmes.

Stephen Timms: Future levels of Crown Estate expenditure are a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners. I am however informed by the Chief Executive that the Crown Estate has allocated around 800,000 for the Marine Stewardship Fund this year (200405), which does not include 300,000 per annum earmarked for this year and next to support salmon farming in Scotland.

Ministerial Travel

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of his journey to and from the North East on 12 October.

Gordon Brown: My visit to the North East was not made in an official capacity. There was no cost to the public purse.

DEFENCE

Allan Sharples

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obstacles remain to the establishment of a board of inquiry into the death of Private Allan Sharples at Catterick Barracks on 30 April 2000.

Adam Ingram: A Board of Inquiry is convened into all unnatural deaths in the services unless there are particular reasons why this might not be necessary. The Director of Personal Services (Army) granted authority to dispense with a Board of Inquiry into the death of Private Allan Sharples as it was determined that, following the Coroner's inquest, no further information would be learned through its convening. There are no plans to convene a Board of Inquiry into this case.

Angola

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide assistance for the training of the Angolan armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom provides a small amount of training annually to the Angolan armed forces. This training is targeted at military education designed to increase national capacity to conduct peace support operations. The Ministry of Defence is currently examining proposals for 200506.

Astute Class Attack Submarines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed Astute Class attack submarines.

Adam Ingram: There are three Astute Class Submarines currently on contract with BAE Systems. Further orders for the Astute Class Submarine are being considered and an announcement will be made at the appropriate time.

Bowman Radios

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes (a) have been made and (b) are planned to (i) the Warrior, (ii) the Challenger II main battle tank and (iii) the Land Rover to allow them to be fitted with the Bowman Radio; and what estimate he has made of the cost in each case.

Adam Ingram: The aim of the Bowman programme is to install this battle winning tactical communications capability in a wide range of military platforms at minimal disruption to their current configuration. The work necessary to achieve this is contained within the contracted firm price secured through competition and cannot be separately identified.

Bowman Radios

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of minor radiofrequency burns have been reported by servicemen and women involved in the trials of the Bowman Radio.

Adam Ingram: From our experience with the Clansman PRC320 man-portable radio we were already aware of the possibility of radio frequency burns inherent in all high frequency radios. A combination of minor modifications and acceptable operating limitations has reduced the risk within the Bowman man-portable radio to a negligible level. Although reports from early trials mention that a few soldiers have received minor burns, none states that medical treatment was required.

Bowman Radios

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether operation of the Challenger II main battle tank has been impaired by noise interference to tank crews as a result of installing Bowman radios.

Adam Ingram: Following well-established incident reporting procedures, Challenger 2 tank crews have reported intermittent failures of the internal intercom since installation of the Bowman communications system. The system's designers are working to establish the cause conclusively and to determine a cost-effective solution. Until this is resolved, we have issued an advisory safety instruction that, with immediate effect, Challenger 2 tank crews are to exercise extreme caution when safe operations would be compromised by even a brief loss of commander or driver communications.

Bowman Radios

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems have been experienced with the software included in the Bowman Radio Communications Programme; and what he estimates the cost of correcting these problems to be.

Adam Ingram: Bowman is a software intensive programme that contains over 10 million lines of bespoke source code. With a system of this complexity, it is typical for errors to be encountered following the integration of sub-systems, especially as it is often operated in a manner not predicted in its original design. The programme is continuing within its approved schedule, cost and performance, and the costs of software development cannot be separately identified within the contract firm price secured through competition.

Canadian Submarines

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much it has cost to (a) maintain and (b) refurbish each of the four submarines sold to the Canadian Government since they were taken out of Royal Navy service; and how much the Canadian Government paid for the submarines.

Adam Ingram: The cost of maintaining the submarines before their refurbishment and the cost of the refurbishment of the Upholder Class submarines are commercially sensitive, and I am withholding details in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	The value of the lease-to-buy arrangement reached with Canada, which includes the four Upholder Class submarines, training and initial spares, is some 610 million Canadian dollars (currently around 265 million pounds Sterling).

Defence Bases (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operating cost of each defence base in Scotland was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Staff

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent jobs (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies had in (i) Yorkshire and the Humber and (ii) the City of York in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available.

Ivor Caplin: Data about the number of jobs within the Ministry of Defence is not held centrally, only staff numbers. Reliable data is not available below Government office region level.
	(a) The total number of full-time equivalent civilian staff working for the Ministry of Defence in the Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region was 3,430 as at 1 July 1997 and 3,910 as at 1 April 2004.
	Of this, the numbers of full-time equivalent civilian staff working for agencies and Trading Funds in Yorkshire and the Humber as at 1 July 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency(16) 30 
			 Army Personnel Centre 20 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency 730 
			 British Forces Post Office (17) 
			 Defence Estates 60 
			 Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (17) 
			 Defence Vetting Agency (17) 
			 Ministry of Defence Police 130 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 220 
			 Specialist Procurement Services(18) 10 
			 Army Base Repair Organisation 160 
			 Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (17) 
			 Meteorological Office 50 
		
	
	(16) This agency became part of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency in April 1999.
	(17) Less than five staff.
	(18) This agency became part of the Defence Procurement Agency in April 1999.
	Note:
	All figures are rounded to the nearest 10; as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.
	And similarly the numbers of full-time equivalent civilian staff working for agencies and Trading Funds in Yorkshire and the Humber as at 1 April 2004 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency 970 
			 British Forces Post Office (19) 
			 Defence Communications Services Agency 10 
			 Defence Dental Agency 20 
			 Defence Estates 130 
			 Defence Medical Education and Training Agency 10 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 10 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency 40 
			 Defence Vetting Agency 340 
			 Medical Supplies Agency (19) 
			 Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency(20) 500 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (19) 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 200 
			 Veterans Agency 10 
			 Army Base Repair Organisation 120 
			 Meteorological Office 30 
		
	
	(19) Less than five staff.
	(20) Formed on 1 April 2004 when Ministry of Defence Guard Service merged with Ministry of Defence Police.
	Note:
	All figures are rounded to the nearest 10; as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.

Eurofighter

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the cost to the UK of the third tranche of Eurofighter aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We expect shortly to commit to four-nation contracts for the second tranche of aircraft. We do not expect to invite industry to provide a quotation for the third tranche of aircraft before 2007. I am withholding the estimate of the cost to the UK for the third tranche under Exemption 7of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Gibraltar

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a Minister last met the representative body of the Ministry of Defence Gibraltar Police constables and sergeants; and if he will make a statement on when he next intends to meet them.

Adam Ingram: I last met the Gibraltar Service Police Staff Association (GSPSA) during my visit to Gibraltar in November 2002. There are currently no plans for a further meeting.

Missile Defence

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his written statement on missile defence, of 12 October 2004, Official Report, columns 910WS, for what reasons the copy of the agreement to which he referred was not placed in the Library when the statement was made.

Geoff Hoon: As explained in the statement made on 12 October, parts of the text of the Research Development Test and Evaluation Annex have been withheld at the request of the US. At the time the statement was made a redacted text, based on the final agreement signed that day, had not been produced. Copies of the agreement were placed in the House of Commons Library on October 19.

Naval Supply Ships

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace the (a) Rover, (b) Leaf, (c) Fort Grange and (d) Fort Victoria classes of tankers and replenishment vessels; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: In the long-term the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) project will provide the capability currently delivered by Fort Rosalie (formerly Fort Grange), Fort Victoria and the Rover and Leaf classes of vessels. The MARS programme has been established to investigate a wide range of solutions to meet the logistic support requirements of the future Royal Navy and provide sea-based support to deployed forces. Currently the MARS project is in the process of transitioning from the Concept Phase to the Assessment Phase. During the Assessment Phase a number of solutions will be examined further.
	In the medium term, options are also being considered to provide an interim replacement to the Leaf and Rover classes of vessels prior to MARS vessels coming into service. This interim capability may, or may not, provide part of the long-term solution.

RAF Fylingdales (Radar Installations)

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ask the Health Protection Agency to provide continuing monitoring of health risks arising from radar installations at RAF Fylingdales early warning station.

Geoff Hoon: The safety of surrounding communities is a paramount consideration in the operation of all defence facilities. In the case of early warning radar installations at RAF Fylingdales, the Ministry of Defence takes all necessary steps to ensure that its activities remain within the health guidelines established by the National Radiological Protection Board (now part of the Health Protection Agency). After the upgrade of the radar is complete, the MOD will continue to monitor radar emissions to ensure that it remains within health guidelines, and will provide the data to local authorities and the Health Protection Agency. The Scarborough Whitby and Ryedale NHS Primary Care Trust published in November 2003 an independent 'Descriptive Study of Cancer Occurrence Around RAF Fylingdales', which showed no evidence of a link between RAF Fylingdales and the number of local cancer registrations, and they plan to issue further updated reports roughly every three years. In the light of these circumstances, the MOD is not currently considering asking the Health Protection Agency to provide continuing monitoring of alleged health risks arising from RAF Fylingdales. Were the HPA to decide to carry out additional monitoring the MOD would cooperate as fully as possible.

Warships

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace (a) HMS Diligence when she is decommissioned in 2006 and (b) HMS Sir Belvedere in 2011.

Adam Ingram: FA Diligence is currently programmed to remain in service until around the end of the decade. Studies are underway to look at options for maintaining the capability provided by RFA Diligence, but no decisions have been taken on a replacement. The capability provided by RFA Sir Bedivere will be met largely by the introduction of the Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary); however, the need to replace some aspects of its capability is still under review, and no decisions have been made.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what monitoring takes place of the penalties imposed in respect of breaches of antisocial behaviour orders.

Christopher Leslie: The antisocial Behaviour Unit at the Home Office receives information annually on breach of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) and disposals. Breach and disposal data up to December 2003 are anticipated to be available by the end of November.
	On receipt of this data, the antisocial behaviour unit will analyse it in order to better understand how ASBOs are working and the types of disposals being issued. In undertaking this exercise the antisocial behaviour unit will have regard to wider Home Office priorities, such as prevention, sentencing and prisons.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases of breaches of antisocial behaviour orders have been heard by (a) Brighton and (b) Hove magistrates courts in each month since January 2003.

Christopher Leslie: Brighton and Hove magistrates courts have been amalgamated and operate as a single court.
	Antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) breach data are compiled through a manual matching process (primarily using names and dates of birth) between those ASBOs reported to have been issued since 1 June 2000 and breaches reported on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database. (Prior to 1 June 2000 only data on numbers of ASBOs issued and refused were collected from police forces).
	Since it takes several months for court proceedings data to be received by the Home Office, and then validated and corrected, the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate at the Home Office will be publishing statistics on breaches on an annual basis. Breach data for 2003 will be available in the late autumn.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Lepper: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in the Brighton and Hove city council area in each month since January 2003.

Christopher Leslie: The number of notifications reported to the Home Office of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued by all courts, where restrictions imposed are specific to the Brighton and Hove city council area, from January 2003 to 31 March 2004, are set out in the following table. (No notifications of antisocial behaviour orders issued, where restrictions were imposed within the Brighton and Hove city council area, were received in the months of January, February, March, June and August 2003).
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2003  
			 April 1 
			 May 3 
			 July 3 
			 September 1 
			 October 2 
			 November 4 
			 December 1 
			   
			 2004  
			 January 1 
			 February 1 
			 March 1

District Judges

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many Welsh-speaking criminal district judges there are on the Wales and Chester circuit.

Christopher Leslie: There are seven full-time district judges (magistrates courts) who sit in the area covered by the Wales and Chester circuit. Of these, two are able to hear cases in the Welsh language.
	Court users in Wales have a statutory right to use Welsh in any legal proceedings in Wales. Appointments to all judicial offices are made on merit. My Department welcomes, however, applications from eligible Welsh-speaking lawyers for any judicial positions in Wales.

Freedom of Information Act

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many disclosures of information he estimates have been made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Christopher Leslie: The Government remain fully committed to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Act is due to come into force on 1 January 2005, 11 months earlier than required. This means, however, that at this time no requests have yet been made under the Act.
	Currently requests for information fall under the Open Government Code of Practice that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will replace. The Monitoring Report for the Code of Practice in 2003 will be published in November of this year, while that of 2004 will be published in autumn 2005. These will set out the volume of requests that have been made under this regime over the last two years.
	The handling of information requests under the Freedom of Information Act by central Government Departments will be monitored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. We intend to publish an interim monitoring report on central Government's operation of the Freedom of Information Act in late 2005 and an annual monitoring report in 2006.

House of Lords Reform

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what Government policy is on reform of the House of Lords; and what the timescale is for its reform.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are determined to proceed with further reform of the House of Lords. It is important to consider its proper role and functions then to look at questions of composition. Policy will be developed in the context of the Labour party manifesto.

Ministerial Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what official meetings the Lord Chancellor has had with the Lord Chief Justice during the past six months.

Christopher Leslie: The Lord Chancellor has meetings and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (internal advice and discussion) on the grounds that it would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Supreme Court

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many letters he has received from members of the judiciary opposing plans for a Supreme Court; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Seventeen members of the judiciary, including a number retired from judicial office, indicated via their written responses to the Government's Consultation paper, Constitutional Reform: a Supreme Court for the United Kingdom, that they opposed plans for a Supreme Court.
	Eighteen members of the judiciary, including the Senior Law Lord, indicated that they supported or were not opposed to the proposals. A collective response in favour of the Supreme Court was also received from the Judges Council. All of the responses to the consultation paper can be viewed on the Department for Constitutional Affairs' website.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants her Department has employed in each main grade for each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The number of staff employed in each grade in my Department for each year since 1997 is shown in the table. Numbers quoted are on a full-time equivalent basis as at 1 April each year. Detailed statistics are available from www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics.
	
		Cabinet Office staffing by grade responsibility including agencies -- Full-time equivalent, as at 1 April
		
			 Grade responsibility 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Non-Industrial Staff: 
			 SCS Level 100 130 120 150 150 200 180 190 
			 Grade 6 60 60 180 0 50 0 0 0 
			 Grade 7 250 230 150 300 340 420 410 380 
			 SEO Level 200 220 120 0 50 90 80 70 
			 HEO Level 270 240 300 310 300 470 430 420 
			 EO Level 400 410 410 350 380 420 380 360 
			 AO Level 450 480 470 370 400 390 380 350 
			 AA Level 250 180 200 160 160 110 120 110 
			 Unreported 0 0 0 70 0 0 0 0 
			 Total Non-Industrial Staff 1,980 1,950 1,950 1,710 1,840 2,100 1,980 1,880 
			 Industrial 580 530 570 280 260 210 210 210 
			 All Staff 2,570 2,480 2,510 1,980 2,100 2,300 2,190 2,090

Civil Service Pension

Nick Harvey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will estimate the total cost of amending the civil service pension regulations so as to provide full widows' pensions to all widows and widowers who married the scheme member post-retirement.

Ruth Kelly: The civil service pension scheme rules reflect the requirements of social security legislation. The estimated additional cost of extending the civil service pension scheme rules to provide full widows/widowers' pensions to all widows and widowers who married the scheme member post-retirement is 170 million.

Departmental Responsibilities

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of his time he has spent on his duties as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in each working week since 9 September.

Alan Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) on 11 October 2004, Official Report, column 59W.

Information and Communications Specialists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many information and communication technology specialists there are in full-time employment in the Office.

Ruth Kelly: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Ministerial Salaries

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the ministerial salary total for her Department was in the financial year 200304; and what it is expected to be in the financial year 200405.

Ruth Kelly: Details of salaries payable to Ministers are available on the Cabinet Office website at: www.civilservice.gov.uk/management information/parliamentary/parliamentary pay/
	I have also placed a copy of this information in the Library.

Party Conferences

James Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidelines are in place regarding the attendance of (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers at political party conferences in the course of their employment; whether payment is made from public funds to political parties for the attendance of special advisers at party conferences; how many special advisers attended the 2004 Labour Party conference; and what the cost was to public funds of their attendance.

Ruth Kelly: Guidance on the attendance of civil servants and special advisers at party political conferences is set out in the Civil Service Management Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, the Ministerial Code and the Directory of Civil Service Guidance (Volume 2). Information on the numbers of special advisers who attended the 2004 Labour Party conference is not a matter for Government. The cost of special advisers attending party conferences is not met from public funds.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Brazil (IAEA Inspection)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Government of Brazil on its dispute with the International Atomic Energy Agency over inspections of uranium enrichment facilities.

Denis MacShane: The Government regularly discuss a wide range of counter-proliferation issues with Brazilian interlocutors including Brazil's current discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These concern the adoption of an Additional Protocol to Brazil's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, given Brazilian concerns regarding access to its commercial uranium enrichment facility. We believe that the IAEA's inspection arrangements adequately protect commercial confidence and have urged Brazil to conclude an Additional Protocol at the earliest opportunity.

Craig Murray

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what directions he gave concerning disciplinary charges laid against Mr. Craig Murray; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: None.

Craig Murray

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he took the decision to recall HM ambassador to Uzbekistan.

Douglas Alexander: No.

Craig Murray

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first made aware that disciplinary charges were to be laid against Mr. Craig Murray; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was briefed at the end of August 2003.

Craig Murray

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the disciplinary charges laid against Mr. Craig Murray in August 2003; which of them were subsequently dropped; for what reason they were dropped; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We do not comment on the detail of individual cases. I am therefore withholding this information under Exemptions 8(a) and 12 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Craig Murray

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what directions he gave concerning Mr. Craig Murray's withdrawal as HM ambassador to Uzbekistan; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: None.

EU Applicant Countries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Governments of the EU applicant countries regarding their accession to the European Union.

Denis MacShane: Macedonia is currently the only applicant country. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva in March. I met Deputy Prime Minister Xhaferri in January, and Foreign Minister Mitreva and European Integration Minister Sekerinska (among others) during a visit to Skopje in April and since at meetings elsewhere in Europe. EU accession and related issues were discussed at all these meetings.
	The Foreign Secretary and I have regular accession-related discussions with Ministers from the four candidate countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey.

European Constitution Treaty

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether public funds will be made available for appeals on the grounds of disproportionate severity of sentence, as defined on page 32 of the proposed European Constitutional Treaty, Cm 6289.

Denis MacShane: It is already possible in the UK to appeal against sentences on the grounds that they are disproportionate. Incorporation of the Charter into the EU Constitutional Treat) will have no effect on this.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterparts concerning the actions of Spanish border guards in respect of the carriage of tobacco products from Gibraltar to Spain.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no specific discussions with his Spanish counterparts on this issue.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the potential (a) military and (b) economic strategic nature of Gibraltar.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for the armed forces (Mr. Ingram) gave him on 12 July 2004, Official Report, column 991W.
	Questions regarding Gibraltar's economy should be directed to the Gibraltar Government.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) UK representatives in Vienna have had with officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning the alleged removal of dual use material and equipment from Iraq; when these discussions took place; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) UK representatives in Washington DC have had with officials of the US Administration concerning the removal of dual use material and equipment from Iraq; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) UK representatives in Baghdad have had with officials of the Iraqi Administration concerning the removal of dual use material and equipment from Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: To date there have been no formal discussions of this issue with the US Administration, the Iraq Interim Government or the International Atomic Energy Agency.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on 12 October 2004, Official Report, columns 14243, that he would seek further details concerning the reports of the removal of dual-use goods and equipment from Iraq. Discussions with a range of interlocutors will form a part of that investigation.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the process of authorisation is for the removal of dual use material and equipment from Iraq; what communication with the (a) UK Government and (b) US Administration this process requires; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The issue of removal of dual-use equipment and materials is a matter for the Iraqi Interim Government.
	Following recent revelations of the discovery of dual-use goods and missile parts at scrap-yards in Europe and elsewhere, the Iraqi Interim Government have introduced strict controls on the export of scrap materials.

Iraq

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iraqi Interim Administration regarding materials that could be used to make nuclear weapons that have disappeared from Iraq.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) today.

Israel

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions he has requested the Israeli Government to dismantle the separation barrier where it has been built in occupied territory.

Denis MacShane: The Government regularly raise our concerns over the route and the humanitarian consequences of the barrier with the Israeli Government. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, and I as well as our Embassy in Tel Aviv, continue to urge the Israeli Government to re-route the barrier away from Occupied Territory. To list the total number of occasions on which this issue has been raised could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Israel

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the ruling of the International Court of Justice of 9 July, concerning Israel's separation barrier.

Denis MacShane: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion of 9 July stated their view that the barrier being built on occupied land is illegal. This echoes the consistently held position of the UK, the EU and the UN. The UK voted in favour of United Nations General Assembly ES-10/15 acknowledging the receipt of the Advisory Opinion and making clear that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority must abide by international law.
	While agreeing with the broad conclusion, the Government do not agree with the legal reasoning of some of the ICJ Advisory Opinion, in particular the very limited recognition of Israel's legitimate right to defend itself. We recognise Israel's right to protect its citizens from terrorist attack, but it must act in accordance with international law.
	The UK will continue to urge Israel to route the barrier away from Occupied Territory, in order to comply with international law.

Libya

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Italy's proposals to lift the EU arms embargo on Libya.

Denis MacShane: Libya's dismantlement of its declared weapons of mass destruction programmes and formal acceptance of responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing are welcome developments.
	The Government supported the European Union (EU) Presidency's proposed conclusions on Libya, that were adopted by the Council on 11 October, on lifting the EU arms embargo and repealing remaining EU sanctions.
	The Government believe lifting the embargo sends an important signal to Libya, and other states, that there is a route back into the international community, and will open the way for the further development of EU-Libya relations.

Mauritania

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with the Government of Mauritania on the alleged coup to overthrow President Maaouiya Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya.

Denis MacShane: UK Officials regularly meet with their Mauritanian counterparts. Recent discussions have included the alleged coup attempts. We continue to monitor the situation in Mauritania from the British embassy in Rabat, Morocco.

Mutual Defence Agreement

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the renewal negotiations concerning the 1958 UK/USA Mutual Defence Agreement.

Denis MacShane: Negotiations were concluded and amendments to the 1958 UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement were signed by empowered UK and US representatives on 14 June. These amendments were then laid before Parliament with an Explanatory Memorandum for 21 days in accordance with the normal procedure. The 21 days ended on 20 July. The amendments have also been laid before the US Congress, where they must lie for 60 days in accordance with US procedures. Entry into force can then be completed by an exchange of notes.

Nuclear Disarmament

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given to the British officials attending the current session of the United Nations General Assembly regarding the draft resolution entitled, Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: Accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments.

Denis MacShane: The draft New Agenda Coalition (NAC) resolution. Towards a nuclear free world: Accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments, contains a number of points that we support, but also a number that we do not. For example, we do not agree that the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) are failing to implement their disarmament obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Officials have discussed these points with NAC and other delegations but no decision has yet been taken on our voting intentions.

Pakistan Missile Testing

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) UK representatives in Pakistan have had with officials of the Pakistan Government, concerning the reported testing of a Hatf-V type Ghauri missile on 12 October; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We take every opportunity in our bilateral and multilateral contacts to encourage India and Pakistan to practise restraint in testing long-range missiles. However, we have not in this instance spoken with the Pakistani Government over the test firing of a Hatf-V Ghauri missile on 12 October.

Pakistan Missile Testing

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) UK representatives in India have had with officials of the Indian Government, concerning the reported testing by Pakistan of a Hatf-V type Ghauri missile on 12 October; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We take every opportunity in our bilateral and multilateral contacts to encourage India and Pakistan to practise restraint in testing long-range missiles. However, we have not in this instance spoken with the Indian Government over the test firing of a Hatf-V Ghauri missile on 12 October.

Post-war Reconstruction

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have provided (a) military, (b) political or diplomatic and (c) logistical support to the occupation and post-war reconstruction of (i) Kosovo, (ii) Afghanistan and (iii) Iraq.

Denis MacShane: The information requested is as follows:
	Kosovo
	There are no grounds to refer to the NATO intervention in Kosovo in 1999 as an occupation. NATO intervened in Kosovo to avert an immediate and overwhelming humanitarian disaster. The NATO website provides a list of those countries contributing to the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR): http://www.nato.int/kfor/
	The combined diplomatic efforts of the European Union, Russia and the United States made possible the resolution of the crisis within the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244: http://www.unmikonline.org/press/reports/N9917289.pdf. UNSCR 1244 set up the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) whose mandate includes promoting the establishment, pending a final settlement, of substantial autonomy and self-government in Kosovo. The UNMIK website http://www.unmikonline.org provides further information about its role.
	The six-nation Contact Group (US, UK, Russia. Germany, France and Italy) supports the rebuilding of Kosovo through UNMIK and the UN authorised. NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR).
	The UN Secretary-General's report on Kosovo dated 30 July provides a full list of countries supporting UNMIK http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/sgrep04.html. The number of contributors and the nature of their contribution is constantly changing.
	Afghanistan
	There are no grounds to refer to military operations in Afghanistan as occupation. These operations are being carried out with the consent of President Karzai and the Afghan Transitional Administration and increasingly involve units of the new Afghan National Army. The following countries have supplied support to Coalition missions in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom, the UN-authorised International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), or both:
	Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan.
	The number of contributors and the nature of their contribution is constantly changing. The NATO website (http://www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan/index.html) and the Coalition website (http://www.centcom.mil/Operations/Coalition/joint.html) detail many of these contributions.
	At the Berlin Conference on Afghanistan in March 2004 the following countries pledged to support Afghanistan's reconstruction and development with pledges of support and development funding:
	Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.
	The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Union and the Aga Khan Development Network also made pledges.
	Iraq
	More than 40 countries provided political, or logistical support to military action against Iraq. Subsequently UNSCR 1483 agreed by the UN Security Council on 22 May 2003 recognised the status under international law of the occupying powers under unified command and called on member states to provide humanitarian support in Iraq. 37 individual states, the European Union, World Bank and IMF have consequently committed considerable funds to the reconstruction of Iraq.
	In addition UNSCR 1511, which was unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council, authorised a multinational force (MNF) under unified command. The following states have formed part of the multinational force in addition to the United Kingdom and United States forces: Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Romania, Japan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Albania, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, El Salvador, South Korea, Australia and Tonga
	Direct reconstruction support is also provided though each of these contingents.
	Some states provided a valuable contribution to the MNF during 200304 but have since withdrawn, including Spain, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Philippines and New Zealand.
	On 28 June 2004 the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) came into power and the Occupation ended. The MNF is now operating in Iraq in support of the IIG. The current MNF was re-authorised by UNSCR 1546 on 8 June 2004.

Theft and Fraud

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The information is as follows:
	
		
		
			 April to March Fraud Sum recovered Net loss 
		
		
			 199798 114,385 4,396 109,989 
			 199899 102,202 6,705 95,497 
			 19992000 11,183 11,183 0 
			 200001 16,326 15,553 773 
			 200102 41,459 4,481 36,978 
			 200203 171,798 152,429 19,369 
			 200304 172,976 180,826 0 
		
	
	Note:
	HM Treasury fraud reporting requirements changed with effect from 200203, at which time Departments were required to report attempted frauds as well, not just instances of actual fraud.
	In February 1998, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) heard evidence about a 110,000 fraud in Amman. It involved false and inflated utility bills that were presented for duplicate cash payment. The criminal case has recently found the fraudster guilty and he has been ordered by the courts to repay the full sum to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	A further PAC Hearing in February 2000 heard evidence of a 82,000 fraud at our offices in Calcutta. The criminal trial for this fraud is set to begin very soon. The civil trial to pursue restitution of the defrauded sum has just started.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Denis MacShane: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and receives the support of the UK and the vast majority of the international community. It has the largest membership of any arms control treaty. The NPT creates an international norm for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The large increase in the number of states with nuclear weapons, as feared by some in the 1960s has not taken place. However, there have been a small number of instances where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in its prescribed role under the treaty, has raised concerns about the compliance of Non Nuclear Weapon States with their obligations under the NPT. The UK shares those concerns and also supports the six party talks intended to resolve the worrying case of North Korea's nuclear programmes. It is within that context that we emphasise the case for stronger and more effective counter-proliferation measures and the importance of compliance with the treaty and with the IAEA's efforts in this regard.
	The NPT has survived many challenges in its 34-year history and it remains a strong treaty. The UK looks forward to participating fully in the Review Conference in May 2005.

Tsar Appointments

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many tsars have been appointed with responsibilities which cover part of the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: None.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Jobseeker's Allowance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who have successfully claimed asylum claimed jobseeker's allowance in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available. The Department is unable to identify successful asylum applicants from jobseeker's allowance (JSA) data as, once in receipt of this benefit, these customers are subject to the same benefit rules as all our JSA recipients.

Winter Fuel Allowance

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions why British residents in (a) Guadeloupe, (b) Martinique and (c) the Azores receive the winter fuel allowance; what the annual cost has been since 2002 of such payments; and what assessment the Government have made of temperature levels in these areas.

Malcolm Wicks: Guadeloupe and Martinique are overseas 'Dpartements' of France and the Azores is a Portuguese island. As such all are treated as constituents of the European Union. Eligible people living in these regions can continue to receive a winter fuel payment if they satisfy the qualifying criteria. We are not able to provide the annual cost of these payments as data are held on a national basis. For winter 200304 there were 3,797 payments made to eligible people living in France at a cost of 603,500 and 257 to eligible people living in Portugal at a cost of 42,500. No assessment has been made of temperature levels in these areas.

Asbestos

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to extend asbestos industrial injury benefit to sufferers who have come into contact with asbestos via a family member working in an industrial environment; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The statutory provisions of the Industrial Injuries scheme provide benefits to employed earners only where an illness or injury is due to their occupation. There are no plans to extend the scope of the Industrial Injuries scheme to the family members of those diagnosed with asbestosis or to people who have been exposed to asbestos outside of their work.

Benefits

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will re-examine the proposals to remove (a) benefit processing and (b) drop-in services from Skelmersdale.

Jane Kennedy: Jobcentre Plus is changing the way it processes benefits across the county, and the changes for Skelmersdale are part of this plan to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. The benefit processing work currently undertaken in Skelmersdale will move to either Blackpool or Preston. We have now started detailed planning and expect to complete these changes by 200708 at the latest. These plans are still subject to change during the planning phase.
	I am pleased to confirm that the Jobcentre Plus office at Whelmar House, Skelmersdale will continue to deliver the full range of services to customers.

Benefits

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many reconsiderations for disability living allowance and attendance allowance there were in each year since 2000 in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland; and how many reconsiderations resulted in a change to the initial decision

Maria Eagle: The available information is in the table.
	
		Reconsiderations of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) that resulted in a change to the initial decision in Great Britain(21)
		
			  Financial year 
			  19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 DLA  
			 Reconsiderations(22) 277,940 304,350 253,105 271,165 259,955 
			 DLA changed 76,850 86,875 67,400 75,550 74,155 
			   
			 AA  
			 Reconsiderations(22) 90,605 103,690 84,600 86,985 83,775 
			 AA changed 36,375 55,530 45,940 47,080 46,915 
		
	
	(21) All figures are for Great Britain. It is not possible to provide figures separately for Scotland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for social security matters within Northern Ireland.
	(22) The reconsiderations figure includes withdrawn decisions, lapsed decisions and defective decisions.
	Notes:
	1. Figures taken from the AA/DLA 100 per cent. MIS System.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	DWP IAD Information Centre.

Child Support Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what percentage of CSA cases which have been migrated to the new system manual intervention has been required in order to make payments to the parent with care; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. David Drew dated, 21 October 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what percentage of Child Support Agency cases which have been migrated to the new system manual intervention has been required in order to make payments to the parent with care; and if he will make a statement.
	I am unable to provide the number of migrated cases on which manual payments have been made to a parent with care as we do not capture this information. I can however indicate the total number of manual payments that have been made. Since March 2004 approximately 2,450,000 payments have been made and, of these, around 18,500 have required manual intervention. The vast majority of these will refer to payments to parents with care in respect of cases that have been migrated to the new system.

Child Support Agency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency compensation payments were made to (a) parents with residence and (b) absent parents in each financial range in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. Bob Spink dated 21 October 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Support Agency compensation payments were made to (a) parents with residence and (b) absent parents in each financial range over each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
	The Agency does not record an analysis of payments on a basis that permits me to split the total between parents with care and non-resident parents. I can however indicate the total number of payments of redress for financial loss attributable to maladministration arising from the Agency's caseload of 1.3 million. This is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 20012002 6,325 
			 20022003 5,863 
			 20032004 4,897

Child Support Agency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Child Support Agency cases are being calculated manually; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr Doug Smith. He will write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Frank Field, dated 21 October 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any Child Support Agency cases are being calculated manually; and if he will make a statement.
	The Agency commenced applying new arrangements for child support from March 2003. Between that date and 30 June 2004 the Agency made around 117,000 calculations of maintenance under the new arrangements, of these around 1,100 were calculated manually.

Child Support Agency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the new IT system for the Child Support Agency was to come into force; how many new claims have been successfully processed; and how much money has been paid to the parent with care in each month.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr Doug Smith. He will write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Frank Field, dated 21 October 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what date the new IT system for the Child Support Agency was to come into force; and (a) how many new claims have been successfully processed and (b) how much money has been paid over to the parent with care in each month.
	We have been using EDS' new computer service for new applications from 3 March 2003. Between that date and 30 June 2004 around 197,500 cases were successfully processed. In that period around 35 million was paid to parents with care in respect of applications made under the new arrangements. I am unable to provide the figures on a monthly basis.

Child Support Agency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what date existing cases will be transferred to the new Child Support Agency IT system.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my right hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Frank Field, dated 21October 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by what date the existing cases will be transferred to the new Child Support Agency IT system.
	We do not intend to transfer existing cases to EDS' new computer service until we are satisfied that it is working well for new applications and those cases linked in some way to those applications. No date has yet been set.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance beneficiaries have also been in receipt of at least one of (i) occupational pension, (ii) personal pension and (iii) permanent health insurance from their employer in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed both incapacity benefit and income support in each year since 1995.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Working age claimants of Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) or National Insurance credits only, and Income Support
		
			  Thousands 
		
		
			 May 1995 880.2 
			 May 1996 956.9 
			 May 1997 1,030.8 
			 May 1998 1,071.5 
			 May 1999 1,110.7 
			 May 2000 1,157.5 
			 May-01 1,224.7 
			 May-02 1,237.7 
			 May-03 1,273.8 
			 May-04 1,269.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Working age claimants are men aged 1664 and women aged 1659.
	3. Numbers are taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are subject to a degree of sampling error.
	4. Working age client group dataset excludes a small number of IB claimants who are over State Pension Age (SPA), plus Income Support claimants above SPA (whether or not they have a partner under SPA)
	5. Figures cover individuals claiming both IB/SDA and IS. There will be some additional cases where a person claims IB/SDA with their partner claiming IS on behalf of the benefit unit; the number of such cases is unknown.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. samples

Incapacity/Severe Disablement Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time was before new incapacity benefit claimants saw doctors employed by or contracted to the Department for a medical assessment in relation to the receipt of incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: Information about medical referrals in individual cases is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Depending on a claimant's condition, initial referrals for personal capability assessments are made from between three and 10 weeks from the date of claim. Upon receipt of a referral from Jobcentre plus, Medical Services have an actual average clearance time target of 32 working days to complete their part of the examination process. This will include a doctor carrying out a medical assessment where appropriate.

Incapacity/Severe Disablement Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of those going on to incapacity benefit in each year since 1997 had a claim for incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance rejected in the previous two years, broken down by (a) age and (b) region.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Incapacity/Severe Disablement Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table.
	
		Cost of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance 199798 to 200304  -- Nominal terms ( million)(23)
		
			  Incapacity benefit Severe disablement allowance 
		
		
			 199798 7,412 999 
			 199899 7,251 984 
			 19992000 6,790 1006 
			 200001 6,766 1014 
			 200102 6,749 1040 
			 200203 6,764 959 
			 200304(24) 6,715 932 
		
	
	(23) Consistent with Spending Review 2004 figures, published in Table 3 of the Benefit Expenditure Tables on the DWP website.
	(24) Estimated outturn figures provided for 200304
	Source:
	Departmental Accounts, various years, and Spending Review 2004 estimates.

Industrial Injuries Benefits

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women have been awarded industrial injuries benefits as a result of contracting asbestos-related diseases in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The available information on the number of men and women awarded industrial injures benefits as a result of contracting asbestos-related diseases is in the table.
	
		Number of men and women awarded industrial injuries benefits as a result of contracting asbestos-related diseases
		
			  Men Women 
		
		
			 1994 1,175 25 
			 1995 1,285 40 
			 1996 1,295 20 
			 1997 1,040 20 
			 1998 1,105 35 
			 1999 1,245 35 
			 2000 1,355 30 
			 2001 1,475 50 
			 2002 1,865 75 
			 2003 (25) 2,145 100 
		
	
	(25) Provisional data
	Note:
	Figures are first diagnosed assessments and are a 100 per cent. count rounded to the nearest 5 to ensure anonymity.

Job Vacancies (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unfilled job vacancies there are at York Jobcentre; and how many there were at the same date in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 21 October 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of unfilled job vacancies at York Jobcentre. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records, the numbers of unfilled vacancies at York Jobcentre between 1996 and 2000 are set out in the table below. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
	
		Unfilled vacancies recorded at York Jobcentre between1996 and 2000 
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996 960 
			 1997 1,020 
			 1998 1,430 
			 1999 1,120 
			 2000 1,390 
		
	
	Source:
	NOMIS National Statistics.
	From 2001, the publication of Jobcentre Plus vacancy statistics was deferred due to distortions in the data. These arose partly from difficulties with a new computer system and partly from the introduction of innovative vacancy-taking procedures, such as the creation of Employer Direct Contact Centres, which made it difficult to interpret changes in the figures. Published data on the number of unfilled Jobcentre Plus vacancies remains suspended and at present is not suitable for use as a labour market indicator. We are currently reviewing the derivation and composition of the data. We are working closely with colleagues in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to reinstate data that will be suitable for public use.
	The figures in the table below show management information on numbers of unfilled vacancies at the now Jobcentre Plus office from August 2001 to August 2004. Figures are not comparable to the National Statistics series shown above and should not be interpreted as reflecting changes to labour market conditions over the period from 1996. These figures may also be higher, as the catchment area for vacancy recording has widened reflecting broader travel to work patterns.
	
		Unfilled vacancies recorded at the Jobcentre Plus office after 2001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 2,750 
			 2002 3,620 
			 2003 4,300 
			 2004 5,140 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Vacancy Database, Management Information.
	I hope this is helpful.

Pathways to Work Pilots

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress of the Pathways to Work pilots.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 October 2004
	I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-West (Mr. Best) on 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 15.

Pension Credit

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the allowable period of absence for pension credit claimants who leave the country to 13 weeks.

Malcolm Wicks: Officials are still researching a range of options for potentially extending the period for which pension credit can continue to be paid for customers who go abroad for less than 52 weeks. However, we estimate that the cost of extending the period to 13 weeks would be an additional 5 million per year.

Pension Credit

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in the Maidenhead constituency are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for pension credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 400,000 households in the South East Government Office Region (GOR), corresponding to approximately 500,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for pension credit in 200405. Information on the number of pension credit recipients in the South East GOR and in Maidenhead is given in the table.
	
		Pension credit recipients31 August 2004
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 South East GOR 268,365 321,530 
			 Maidenhead 2,190 2,630 
		
	
	(26) Figures are rounded to the nearest five
	(27) Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60

Pension Service

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have attended local Pension Service outreach surgeries in each year since their inception; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available in the format requested. However, figures can be provided from April 2003 to September 2004 and are provided in the following table:
	
		Local Service Surgeries
		
			  Number of customers seen 
		
		
			 April 2003 to March 2004 301,043 
			 April 2004 to September 2004 173,379 
		
	
	The term information points will be now be used instead of surgeries to better describe the outreach services for our customers as local service moves towards supporting partners in running these activities.
	Details of local service information points can be obtained by telephoning the single lo call access number for The Pension Service (0845 60 60 265) or by visiting The Pension Service website: www.thepensionservice. gsi.gov.uk Locally, details of local service information points are often available in libraries, GP surgeries, and advertised in the local press and radio.

Pensioners

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in (a) Yorkshire and Humber and (b) City of York received (i) winter fuel payments and (ii) free television licences in 200304.

Malcolm Wicks: In winter 200304 there were 720,940 households in Yorkshire and Humber and 14,565 households in the City of York that received the winter fuel payment.
	The number of households with at least one resident aged 75 or over in (a) Yorkshire and Humber is 292,095 and (b) City of York is 6,525. Each of these households would therefore be eligible for a free TV licence.
	Notes:
	1. Number is rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. Any residence found to have four or more occupants is not included in these figures as it is assumed to be a residential care or nursing home.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies have been allocated using the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, WFP data winter 200304 100 per cent. sample.

Pensioners

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Yeovil constituency had an annual income of less than 5,000 in 200304; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available.

Pensioners

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many (a) men and (b) women living in the city of Glasgow are in receipt of state retirement pension; and what percentage of the city's population these figures represent;
	(2)  how many pensioners living in the city of Glasgow are in receipt of the additional payments made to pensioners over the age of 80 years.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of men and women living in the city of Glasgow who were in receipt of state pension as at 31 March 2004 and the percentage of the city's population these figures represent is in the table:
	
		
			  Recipients of state pension in city of Glasgow Percentage of the city of Glasgow population 
		
		
			 All 107,600 18.6 
			 Men 36,300 6.3 
			 Women 71,300 12.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. State pension recipient figures relate to people getting any state pension (basic or additional) or graduated retirement benefit who reside in the city of Glasgow unitary authority.
	2. Population figures are taken from mid-2003.
	3. Population data sources are Office for National Statistics (ONS) and General Register Office, Scotland.
	4. Figures for state pension recipients and age addition are from a 5 per cent. sample and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	5. The additional winter fuel payment figure represents a 100 per cent. sample rounded to the nearest 5.
	6. Figures for state pension recipients and age addition payments are obtained from a 5 per cent. sample of cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	7. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	Source:
	1. IAD information Centre, 5 per cent. sample for state pension and age addition figures.
	2. IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample for winter fuel payment figure.
	As at 31 March 2004 there were 19,000 State Pension recipients in the city of Glasgow over the age of 80 in receipt of the age addition to state pension.
	In winter 200304 the total number of pensioners in the city of Glasgow who received the additional winter fuel payment for those aged 80 or over was 19,575.

Pensions (Indexation)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of reductions in the limited price indexation of pensions on incentives to provide for retirement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Green Paper on pensions made it clear that we would not introduce any change to mandatory indexation unless we had good reason to believe that it would result in increased coverage of occupational pensions. The decision to reduce the Limited Price Indexation cap for defined benefit pensions was made in the context of our proposal to introduce a Pension Protection Fund. In order to ease the financial burden that the PPF would impose on employers, we took steps to balance the costs by reducing the LPI cap from 5 per cent. to 2.5 per cent. The PPF will improve incentives to save by providing essential security for scheme members and will thus increase confidence in, and coverage of, occupational pensions.

Work-related Injury/Illness

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) the UK and (b) Buckinghamshire left the work force following injury or illness caused at work in each year since 2002.

Jane Kennedy: Statistical sources on work place injury and illness do not provide a basis for reliable estimates of the data requested. However, since 1999 there has been a Eurostat module on employment in the Spring Labour Force Survey (LFS) covering special topics. In 2002 this covered employment of disabled people and indicated that in the United Kingdom an estimated 29,000 1 people gave up work in the previous 12 months as a result of a work-related accident or injury (including work-related road traffic accidents) or work-related diseases and illnesses. The module cannot provide reliable estimates at county level.
	Note:
	The statistical 95 per cent. confidence interval around this estimate runs from 22,000 to 37,000 people.

HEALTH

Food Labelling

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what allocation of funds has been made for enforcing GM labelling requirements in the Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1999 to each of the public bodies involved in the current financial year;
	(2)  if he will list the public bodies responsible for enforcement of the GM labelling requirements under the Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1999.

Melanie Johnson: Enforcement of genetically modified (GM) labelling requirements for food is now provided by the Genetically Modified Food (England) Regulations 2004. Previous legislation laying down rules for the labelling of GM food ingredients has been revoked.
	Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of the GM labelling requirement. Depending on the authority, the responsibility may be passed to port health authorities and/or trading standards.

Food Labelling

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to ensure the correct and clear labelling of food products (a) sold by retail outlets and (b) used in processing food in restaurants; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has responsibility for food labelling. Labelling legislation requires that the labelling on food sold at retail and to catering establishments is easy to understand, clearly legible, indelible, clearly visible and not misleading to the consumer. The FSA produces a range of non-statutory guidance on food labelling legislation, including that on clear labelling. Enforcement of food labelling law is the responsibility of local authorities.

School Fruit

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that his Department's scheme to provide fresh fruit to children in primary school benefits local and regional fruit growers in England.

Melanie Johnson: Procurement for the school fruit and vegetable scheme is undertaken under European Union guidance. EU trading rules are designed to ensure fair and open competition within the EU and specifying the country of origin within the EU is prohibited.
	The scheme has been rolled out across successive regions of the country over a two year period. In each region our aim is to reach as wide a range of suppliers and distributors as possible, and we have held open briefing meetings to advise local suppliers how to be involved with the scheme. There has also been regular dialogue with the National Farmers Union, English Apples and Pears and the Fresh Produce Consortium.
	Last season, English grown fruit accounted for 50 per cent. of the apples and pears bought by the school fruit and vegetable scheme for consumption during the United Kingdom season. Over the same period, an average of 3540 per cent. of apples and pears bought by supermarkets were English grown.

Spanish Eggs (Salmonella)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken following the announcement by the Health Protection Agency and Food Standards Agency that there continue to be significant numbers of salmonella outbreaks linked to imported Spanish eggs used in the catering trade.

Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advised me that it is taking two courses of action to try to reduce the number of outbreaks of salmonella food poisoning. It is working with the Spanish authorities to try to reduce the number of contaminated eggs entering the United Kingdom to a minimum and will be meeting the Spanish authorities in Madrid later this week to discuss their action plan. It has also re-issued its advice to caterers that eggs are a raw product and should be treated carefully and properly cooked. This information was given in a joint FSA/Health Protection Agency press release on 14 October.

Antidepressant Drugs

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the time taken by the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency to identify the suicide risk posed by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has kept the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants under review since the time of licensing and has issued timely advice when new information has become available. Depressive illness is a debilitating condition, in which there is an increased risk of suicide and suicidal behaviour. The SSRI antidepressants are effective treatments that have benefited millions. They are increasingly being used for first-line treatment of depressive illness, particularly as they are more easily complied with.
	It is general clinical experience that symptoms of depression, including suicidal behaviour, may increase in early treatment with any antidepressant and the patient information leaflets reflect this advice.
	The question of a possible link between SSRIs and an increased risk of suicidal behaviour was first identified in the early 1990's following publication of case series involving fluoxetine by Teicher et al (1990) which stimulated scientific debate and intense media interest. The CSM reviewed the available data and concluded that there was little evidence to support the suggestion that fluoxetine induces suicidal or aggressive behaviour. This issue has been kept under close continuous review by the Medicines and Health Care products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the CSM and all new data has been carefully scrutinised as and when it becomes available.
	The CSM conducted a further comprehensive review of the available study data in 2000 and concluded that these data do not suggest an increased risk of suicidal behaviour associated with in adults but an effect in a small sub-population could not be ruled out. This issue was also considered at a European level in 2000 and all EU member states endorsed the conclusions of the United Kingdom assessment.
	The CSM considered this issue again in December 2001. This review confirmed the previous advice that the evidence was not sufficient to confirm a causal association between SSRIs and suicidal behaviour, although an effect in a small high-risk population could not be ruled out.
	In June 2003, the MHRA and CSM published advice not to use paroxetine in patients under the age of 18 years with major depressive disorder because of clinical trial data which showed a lack of efficacy in this population and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. The advice was published within two weeks of the data being made available to the MHRA. Comprehensive advice on the safety and efficacy in children and adolescents of the remaining medicines included in the review of the expert working group was published in December 2003.
	The possible association between SSRIs and suicidal behaviour in adults is being further reviewed by the CSM expert working group on SSRIs, which is expected to report later this year.

Bed Provision (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to block further cuts in beds in (a) Basildon and (b) Southend hospitals.

Stephen Ladyman: The provision of acute services, including beds, is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with its stakeholders and the local community. It is for NHS organisations to plan and develop services based on their specific local knowledge and expertise.

Care Plans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2004, Official Report, column 1983W, on carers, what monitoring has been undertaken on the implementation of standard six of the national service framework on mental health to ensure that all carers are receiving care plans.

Rosie Winterton: Implementation of the national service framework for mental health standard six is being monitored through the annual autumn self assessment of mental health services.
	Trusts' performance in meeting the target to put in place 700 more staff to support carers of people with mental illness are being monitored through local delivery plan returns produced by strategic health authorities.

Carers

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) carers and (b) young carers of school age there are in the City of York; what support is given to carers and young carers of school age; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of carers of all ages in the City of York as recorded in the 2001 Census are shown in the table.
	
		Number of carers of all ages in the City of York
		
			  Total Provides no care Provides care: 1 to 19 hours Provides care: 20 to 49 hours Provides care: 50 or more hours 
		
		
			 All people 174,888 158,055 1 2,334 1,508 2,991 
			 0 to 4 9,341 9,341
			 5 to 7 5,750 5,735 12 3  
			 8 to 9 4,020 4,000 14  6 
			 10 to 11 4,278 4,237 38  3 
			 12 to 14 6,211 6,096 105 7 3 
			 15 2,002 1,948 48 6 - 
			 16 to 17 3,990 3,850 127 7 6 
			 18to 19 4,201 4,071 112 11 7 
			 20 to 24 12,571 12,141 346 42 42 
			 25 to 34 25,315 23,845 1,057 146 267 
			 35 to 44 25,845 23,092 2,077 245 431 
			 45 to 49 11,031 9,131 1,547 156 197 
			 50 to 54 12,530 10,029 1,995 220 286 
			 55 to 59 9,888 7,766 1,637 200 285 
			 60 to 64 8,846 7,194 1,218 136 298 
			 65 to 74 15,621 13,358 1,450 191 622 
			 75 to 84 10,536 9,468 500 120 448 
			 85 to 89 2,072 1,943 36 12 81 
			 90 and over 840 810 15 6 9 
		
	
	Source:
	2001 census (Office for National Statistics)
	Table S025Sex and age by general health and provision of unpaid care.
	Table population : All people in households
	Geographical level: York Unitary Authority
	This Government is the first ever to recognise the contribution and concerns of carers formally and has introduced a range of support initiatives.
	It developed the national carers strategy in 1999 with carers and the organisations that represent them. The carers grant was also introduced in 1999 to support councils in providing breaks and services for carers in England. The grant has been increased annually and has provided an extra 325 million over the past five years. It is worth 125 million this year, 200405, and will continue at least until 20O506, by which time it will be 185 million.
	The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004. The Act will ensure that carers are able to take up opportunities which those without caring responsibilities take for granted.
	The Department for Education and Skills supports the young carers initiative through a grant to the Children's Society. The initiative supports over 250 projects or groups working with young carers, which are funded through a range of sources including statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and lottery funds. Each project in turn supports between thirty and fifty young carers. In addition, the young carers initiative supports an annual festival, which attracted approximately 1,350 young people in 2004.

Consultants

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to consultants in each of the last five years, stating in each case (a) the name of the consulting company, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold centrally a record of the information requested and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Dentistry

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the dental workforce review; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health made a written ministerial statement on the report of the primary care dental workforce review on 22 July 2004. The report is available in the Library and at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicy AndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/ fs/en?CONTENT ID = 4086050chk=C2Hjh P.

Dentistry

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that all patients in West Oxfordshire have the choice of treatment by an NHS dentist.

Rosie Winterton: We are undertaking the most far reaching reforms to national health service dentistry since the service began in 1948. By October 2005, we will have recruited the equivalent of 1,000 additional dentists to the NHS, funded 170 additional training places for dental undergraduates and introduced new contractual arrangements which will delegate to primary care trusts (PCTs) responsibility for contracting with general dental practitioners for their local population's oral health needs. We are investing an extra 368 million in dentistry to fund these reforms.
	In anticipation of the contractual changes, PCTs in West Oxfordshire are already working with dental practices to discuss how they can maintain and improve current service levels. I understand they are also exploring the provision of a new practice in west Oxfordshire, although no final decision has yet been made.

Dentistry

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental practices operated in Sunderland in each year since 1999; what percentage of Sunderland (a) adults and (b) children were registered with NHS dental practices in each year, and how many community and school dental services sessions were held in the city in each year.

Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of general dental service (GDS) practices and the proportion of adults and children registered with a GDS dentist are shown in table 1 for Sunderland Health Authority (HA) for 1999 to 2002 and Sunderland primary care trust (PCT) for 2003 and 2004. Table 2 shows the number of patients screened by community and school dental services in Sunderland HA for years 19992000 to 200102 and for City Hospitals Sunderland for the year 200203. Data for community and school dental service screenings for the year 200304 are not yet available.
	
		Table 1
		
			  Number of GDS practices (August) Adult registrations as a percentage of adult population (September) Child registrations as a percentage of child population (September) 
		
		
			 1999 35 46.6 63.7 
			 2000 35 47.3 63.9 
			 2001 36 48.6 63.7 
			 2002 36 49.5 63.0 
			 2003 36 51.4 65.6 
			 2004 (August) 36 51.7 65.3 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Community and school dental services
		
			  Number screened Dental services 
		
		
			 19992000 24,495 Sunderland HA 
			 200001 15,021 Sunderland HA 
			 200102 16,399 Sunderland HA 
			 200203 24,890 City Hospitals Sunderland 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health dental statistics.

Dentistry

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that additional funds for primary care dentistry will be channelled towards dentists who have continued to maintain NHS care provision in preference to those who have reduced their commitment to the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: The base contract values under our proposed new contractual arrangements will be based on the dentists' previous national health service earnings, which will directly relate to the amount of NHS work they provided. Primary care trusts will monitor the NHS dental service provision by dentists to ensure that they maintain their NHS commitment.
	We also intend that some funding should be available to dentists in mixed practices who wish to increase their NHS commitment because they prefer the new contractual and remuneration system to the present arrangements.

Dentistry

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of the additional dentists to be working in the primary dental services by 2011 as anticipated in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of expenditure on dental nurses to assist the additional dentists needed by 2011 in the primary dental services sector, as anticipated in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost of additional (a) dental equipment and (b) surgeries required to support the projected increase in NHS dentists; and what mechanisms will be used to ensure that such resources will be allocated to those areas in greatest need.

Rosie Winterton: Our expansion of the dental workforce is already underway with the recruitment of 1,000 additional dentists to the national health service by October 2005. In addition, by 2011, the first cohort of students to fill the additional 170 training places for dental undergraduates, that we are funding from October 2005, will be entering the workforce. We estimate that the cost to the NHS, net of the income contributed through patients' charges, but including remuneration for premises, equipment and ancillary staff, would be 130 million at current prices. In 200506 we are allocating an extra 250 million to NHS dentistry, an increase of 19.3 per cent., compared to spending in 200304.

Dentistry

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to Government departments of providing training places for the additional dentists anticipated in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review.

Rosie Winterton: In our announcement of 16 July, we undertook to fund 170 extra undergraduate training places in England from October 2005. By 201011, there will be an additional 850 dental students undergoing training. We estimate that the total cost to the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Department of their academic and clinical training will have risen to some 40 million recurring, supported by total capital investment of 95 million over the period 200506 to 200910.

Dentistry

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account was taken in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review, when estimating the number of additional dentists required by 2011, of the views of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on appropriate dental recall intervals.

Rosie Winterton: The model on which the review was based was constructed in 2002, before the National Institute for Clinical Excellence had published draft guidance proposing that the recommended interval between oral health reviews should be determined specifically for each patient based on disease levels and risk of dental disease. This contrasts with current practice of recalling patients at six monthly intervals. We took account of the implications of the draft guidance for the workload of dentists in announcing plans to recruit the equivalent of 1,000 additional dentists and will be checking our progress next year.

Dentistry

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps will be taken to ensure that dentists to be recruited from (a) Poland, (b) Spain and (c) India by primary care trusts are retained in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: Many of these dentists will be recruited to posts within the personal dental services where a national health service commitment is specified. More generally, the changes we are making to dentists' contractual and remuneration arrangements are intended to make NHS dentistry more attractive to dentists.

Dentistry

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental registrations he expects to be available within two years in (a) Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust area and (b) East Lancashire.

Melanie Johnson: The Department does not make forecasts of National Health Service dental registration figures.
	A new dental contract is due for introduction in October 2005. Under this, patients may access NHS dentistry without being registered. Registrations lapse if the patient does not attend the dentist within the last 15 months.

Dentistry

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population of (a) Somerset, (b) South Somerset and (c) Yeovil constituency was registered with an NHS dentist in each year from 198889 to 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not available for the time frame specified. The following tables show the estimated proportions of adults and children registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist from 1993 to 2002 for Somerset health authority (HA) area and for 2003 and 2004 for the four primary care trusts (PCTs) in Somerset.
	
		Dental registration rates in Somerset HA area
		
			 At September each year Proportion of adults registered Proportion of children registered 
		
		
			 1993(28) 66.9 73.6 
			 1994(28) 65.2 72.7 
			 1995(28) 59.2 70.7 
			 1996(28) 55.6 71.4 
			 1997(28) 56.1 73.5 
			 1998 49.1 69.5 
			 1999 46.3 67.3 
			 2000 48.6 69.8 
			 2001 46.4 67.7 
			 2002 48.1 66.4 
		
	
	(28) Population figures used to calculate the rates are for September 1998. The registration rates for September 1997 and earlier are on a different basis from the later figures because of changes in the registration periodadult period fell from 24 months to 15 months.
	
		Dental registration rates in Somerset PCTs
		
			  2003 (August) 2004 (August) 
			 PCTs Adults Children Adults Children 
		
		
			 Mendip 34.9 60.3 37.3 62.1 
			 Taunton Deane 62.8 80.3 55.7 73.5 
			 Somerset Coast 44.3 59.7 39.7 53.8 
			 South Somerset 54.3 74.2 51.7 74.5 
		
	
	Patients may access national health service dental services without being registered, for example in the personal dental service.

DXA Scan

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals in the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority area have the equipment that can carry out a duel energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan; and which hospitals in the area have machines which can measure the density of the wrist or heel.

Stephen Ladyman: The following hospitals have bone densitometers which can be used for part or whole body scans:
	Cambridge University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke's)
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
	Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust (NNUH)
	Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (PS).
	In addition James Paget Hospital NHS Trust carry out this type of bone examination on their computerised tomography (CT) scanner with a dedicated X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner coming into clinical operation by early December.
	The following hospitals have additional equipment that can measure the density of the wrist or heel, only:
	Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke's)
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
	Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust (NNUH).

Foundation Hospitals (Electorate)

Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  who determines the categories of voters to be included in elections relating to foundation hospitals;
	(2)  whether prospective patients on a foundation hospital's waiting list are automatically included in its electorate;
	(3)  whether prospective patients referred to a foundation hospital by a general practitioner but not yet on the appointment list for a doctor at that hospital are automatically included in the electorate for that hospital;
	(4)  what role the Department plays in ensuring consistency between foundation hospitals in compiling the categories that make up their electorates;
	(5)  what monitoring takes place and by whom to ensure consistency between foundation hospitals in compiling the categories that make up their electorates.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts are directly accountable to their local community through their board of governors, which includes governors elected from the membership community of the trust (local people, patients and staff) and people appointed from primary care trusts, local authorities and other stakeholders.
	It is up to each applicant NHS trust to determine the detail of the arrangements for membership and to decide on the size and shape of the board of governors for the prospective organisation. A NHS foundation trust's membership is made up of a number of constituencies, including as a minimum; one or more public constituencies consisting of people living in a geographical area or areas defined in terms of local government electoral areas and a staff constituencyconsisting of all staff members. It is for each trust to determine whether it should have a patients constituency, consisting of patients of the trust and carers, and which may include patients who live outside the area served by the trust. The Department has issued advice to applicant NHS foundation trusts about the options for creating constituencies making up their electorates and that advice needs to be tailored to each trust's particular local circumstances. It follows that we expect diverse approaches to developing constituencies. This advice, NHS Foundation Trusts: a Guide to Governance arrangements is available in the Library.
	All members of a NHS foundation trust have the right to vote for the governor or governors that are elected from their constituency, or class within a constituency, to the board of governors.

Free Eye Tests

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners in York have had free eye tests since they were reintroduced.

Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency or pensioners are not collected centrally. The table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid by North Yorkshire Health Authority (HA) for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2003 and the four primary care trusts (PCTs) covering the old North Yorkshire HA for the year ending 31 March 2004.
	
		General ophthalmic services: number of sight tests paid by North Yorkshire HA for patients aged 60 and over for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2004
		
			  HA/PCT name Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over (000) 
		
		
			 19992000 North Yorkshire HA 52.1 
			 200001 North Yorkshire HA 61.8 
			 200102 North Yorkshire HA 68.9 
			 200203 North Yorkshire HA 70.3 
			 200304:   
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District PCT 21.4 
			 Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT 10.2 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT 17.5 
			 Selby and York PCT 26.3 
			 Total North Yorkshire HA 75.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health.

Electro-convulsive Therapy

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in each year since 1997 have received electro-convulsive therapy treatment without having given their agreement.

Rosie Winterton: Information on electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is published by the Department in the statistical bulletin Electro Convulsive Therapy: Survey covering the period from January 2002 to March 2002, England. It includes information on the total number of administrations of ECT in the national health service and independent sector care settings and nursing homes, broken down by sex, age, ethnicity, legal status and method of consent.
	The 2002 survey confirmed the continuing downward trend in the number of administrations of ECT It showed that of 2,272 patients who received ECT from January to March 2002, 370 did not consent to treatment but were treated after a second opinion was obtained. A further 102 patients received ECT treatment as an emergency.
	Copies of the 2002 Survey and the earlier 1999 Survey can be found on the Department's website at http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/work health care.htm#menthealth

Health Services (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) hip replacements, (b) cataract removals, (c) heart bypass operations and (d) cancer operations were carried out in (i) Yorkshire and Humber and (ii) York in (A) 1997 and (B) 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Selected groups of proceduresAll operations count of finished consultant episodes by provider of treatmentYorkshire and Humberside national health service hospitals, 199798 and 200203
		
			  Hip operations Cataract operations Coronary artery bypass grafts Cancer operations 
			  199798 200203 199798 200203 199798 200203 199798 200203 
		
		
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 7,389 7,558 17,211 29,994 2,152 2,888 71,701 99,436 
			 of which: 
			 York Hospitals NHS Trust 366 457 1,014 1,220   3,528 2,870 
		
	
	Notes:
	Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)
	An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider.
	Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	Grossing
	Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 200203, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	All Operations count of Episodes
	These figures represent a count of all FCE's where the procedure was mentioned in any of the 12 (4 prior to 200203) operation fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if an operation is mentioned in more than one operation field of the record.
	OPCS-4 procedure Codes Used
	Hip Operations W37 to W39, W46 to W48
	Cataract Operations C71, C72, C74, C75
	Heart Bypass (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts) K40 to K44
	Cancer C00C79 (diagnosis Code), any operation recorded
	Low Numbers
	Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with * (an asterisk).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Health Services (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of pensioners in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) City of York received (i) free NHS flu inoculation and (ii) health checks in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: Data on influenza immunisation is published in the national statistics, statistical bulletinnational health service immunisation statistics, England: 200304 at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sbQ416 .htm. A copy of this is available in the Library.
	Influenza immunisations for people aged over 65 were introduced in 2000. In Yorkshire and the Humber region in 200304, 72.4 per cent., of people aged over 65 were immunised against influenza. In the Selby and York Primary Care trust area, 75.3 per cent., of people aged over 65 were immunised against influenza.
	Data on the number of people aged over 65 receiving health checks are not collected.

Health Services (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people on average were on NHS waiting lists for treatment at York District hospital (a) in 1997 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available; and what the (i) maximum and (ii) average waiting time was in each case.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Patients waiting for elective inpatient admission: York Hospitals NHS Trust
		
			   Patients waiting for admission by months waiting 
			 Month end Total number of patients waiting for admission Less than three months Three to five months Six to eight months Nine to 11 months Average (median) waiting time in months 
		
		
			 March 1997 6,846 3,708 1,821 876 441 3.65 
			 August 2004 5,388 3,116 1,631 641 0 3.12 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07 and monthly monitoring.

Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust

George Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust who reside in the Leeds Metropolitan District.

Melanie Johnson: The NHS Appointments Commission is responsible for the appointment of chairs and non-executive members of National Health Service trusts. The information requested is available from the Commission's Chair, Sir William Wells.

Long-term Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average number of years older people who need long-term care are in receipt of such care.

Stephen Ladyman: A study conducted by the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent in the mid to late 1990s estimated that the average length of stay of older people admitted with local authority support to residential care and nursing homes is around 30 months. We are not aware of any comparable published figures relating to people who receive long term care in their own home.

Mental Health Services

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the minimum requirements for out-of-hours mental health services to be provided by NHS trusts delivering mental health services; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 15 October 2004
	Decisions about the configuration of services to support people out of hours who present with mental health problems in crisis are a local responsibility.
	We have issued guidance to strategic health authorities to help them support local services to integrate the components of round-the-clock provision. The components may include crisis resolution teams, duty psychiatric teams, accident and emergency liaison teams and, in some cases, emergency drop-in clinics. It is important that national health service arrangements dovetail with emergency services provided by local authority social services departments.
	Under the care programme approach, people with mental health problems should be given a copy of their written care plan which contains information on how they can access services 24 hours a day.

Ministerial Visits

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of the recent trip to South Africa by the right hon. Member for Barrow and Furness; what his official itinerary was; and which officials accompanied him.

Rosie Winterton: My right hon. Friend, the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton), the Minister of State for Health, attended the United Kingdom-South Africa bilateral forum in Cape Town from 25 to 26 August, along with the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers, at the invitation of the Government of South Africa.
	The itinerary included bilateral meetings with the South African health minister, to discuss, inter alia, the memorandum of understanding on the reciprocal educational exchange of healthcare concepts and personnel; meetings with the health trade unions and public health experts; and a number of visits to health centres in Cape Town.
	My right hon. Friend was accompanied by Sally Warren, his private secretary, Sian Jarvis, the Department's director of communications and Anna Maslin, the Department's international officer for nursing and midwifery. The cost of the four return flights was 13,444; other costs, including accommodation, were paid for by the Government of South Africa.
	Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all overseas visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers, costing 500 or more, dating back to 1997. The Government have also published on an annual basis the total cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Library. All ministerial and civil service travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are also available in the Library.

Ministers' Private Offices

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Department spent on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Department and its Executive agencies has no residential properties on its estate.

MRSA

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the incidence rate of MRSA in hospitals in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 19 October 2004
	The table shows the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) incidence rate (per 1,000 bed days) for each of the five acute trusts in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority for 200002, 200203 and 200304.
	
		
			 MRSA cases per 1,000 bed days(29) 
			 Hospital trust 200102 200203 200203 
		
		
			 Buckinghamshire Hospital National Health Service Trust 0.125 0.138 0.159 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust 0.187 0.132 0.187 
			 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 0.076 0.109 0.055 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 0.23 0.286 0.302 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust 0.139 0.17 0.147 
		
	
	(29) Numbers of MRSA bacteraemia (blood stream infections) collected by the Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre for the Department of Health. Mandatory surveillance data have been collected since April 2001. The latest data (for the year 200304 were published in July 2004). More details are available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/Publications AndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/Publications StatisticsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT ID = 4085951chk = HBt2QD

NHS Spending (Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of (a) total NHS spending and (b) total NHS capital spending in (i) Somerset and (ii) South Somerset in each year from 199091 to 200405, in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is not possible to give data in the format requested throughout the period, because the areas, specifically South Somerset, requested do not correspond to existing national health service body areas. It is also not possible to give comparable information prior to 199697.
	Figures in the tables for earlier years are given for expenditure by the Somerset health authority (HA), and primary care trusts and NHS trusts (for capital expenditure only) within that HA area. However, for 200203 and 200304 it is only possible to give figures for NHS bodies within the current Dorset and Somerset strategic health authority area and therefore the data is not strictly comparable.
	
		Table 1: Total expenditure, at 200304 prices,by health authority area -- 000
		
			  Somerset health authority area Dorset and Somerset strategic health authority area 
		
		
			 199697 330,803 n/a 
			 199798 321,176 n/a 
			 199899 331,998 n/a 
			 19992000 363,481 n/a 
			 200001 414,692 n/a 
			 200102 508,640 n/a 
			 200203 n/a 993,383 
			 200304 n/a 1,055,589 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority summarisation forms and primary care trust summarisation schedules which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the relevant health authorities, and the commissioner costs of the primary care trusts. Figures are given in cash terms.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of health authorities and primary care trusts.
	3. The figures do not represent the total NHS spend as some elements are not accounted for at the health authority or primary care trust level e.g. the majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the individual health authority accounts or primary care trust summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by health authorities or primary care trusts.
	4. Figures for 200001 and 200102 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. This is to ensure consistency between years. Figures for 200203 and 200304 based on strategic health authority areas have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services.
	5. In many health authorities there are factors which distort the expenditure per head.
	These include:
	the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in NHS Trusts being funded through health authorities or primary care trusts.
	For these reasons expenditure per head cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.
	6. All 200304 data is provisional.
	Sources:
	Audited accounts of the health authority 199697 to 199798
	Audited summarisation forms of the health authority 199899 to 200102.
	Audited summarisation forms of the strategic health authority 200203 to 200304
	Audited summarisation schedules of primary care trusts within the health authority and strategic health authority area 200001 to 200304.
	
		Table 2: Capital expenditure, at 200304 prices, by health authority area, incorporating expenditure by NHS bodies within that area -- 000
		
			  Health authorities Primary care trusts NHS trusts Total 
		
		
			 Somerset health authority area  
			 199697 140  4,718 4,858 
			 199798 1.5  5,441 5,456 
			 199899 83  6,692 6,775 
			 19992000 17  6,689 6,706 
			 200001 39  12,972 13,011 
			 200102 44 22,608 10,240 32,892 
			  
			 Dorset and Somerset strategic health authority area 
			 200203 173 14,400 31,491 46,064 
			 200304 48 8,407 36,821 45,276 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Capital spending has been taken to include health authority, primary care trust and NHS trust expenditure on fixed assets within the relevant year.
	2. The figures in the table do not include Private Finance Initiative (PR) expenditure where PR costs are revenue expenditure in the books of NHS bodies.
	3. All 200304 data is provisional.
	Sources:
	Audited accounts of the health authority 199697 to 199798
	Audited summarisation forms of the health authority 199899 to 200102.
	Audited summarisation forms of the strategic health authority 200203 to 200304
	Audited summarisation schedules of primary care trusts within the health authority and strategic health authority area 200001 to 200304.
	Audited summarisation schedules of NHS Trusts within the health authority and the strategic health authority area 199697 to 200304. (for capital expenditure only)

Paramedics (Diabetes)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been put in place by NHS ambulance trusts to medically assess people with diabetes individually who apply to become paramedics.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does mot collect information centrally on the measures used by ambulance trusts for medical assessments. The guidance issued in February 2003 to ambulance trusts in England, which stated that following a change to legislation relating to category C1 vehicles, personnel with good diabetic control and who have no significant complications are now to be treated asexceptional cases' and allowed to apply for a C1 licence, subject to medical assessment.
	The guidance states each applicant should now be assessed individually by a specialist occupational physician, who should consider the applicant's diabetic status, the job to be done and any relevant information about other aspects of his/her health that may have an impact on his/her suitability.

Podiatry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the interval between podiatry appointments; and what the average interval was in each of the last four years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the waiting lists for podiatry services;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the number of patients accessing podiatry services provided by the private sector in the last 12 months.

Stephen Ladyman: No assessment has been carried out centrally.

Podiatry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of the over 60s have accessed podiatry services in England in each of the last six years;
	(2)  how many patients in England received podiatry services in each of the last six years;
	(3)  how many patients in each primary care trust received podiatry treatment in each of the last three years.

Stephen Ladyman: The available information is published in NHS Chiropody Services, Summary Information for 200304, England, at http://www.publications. doh.gov.uk/public/kt230304. It is also available in the Library.

Strategic Health Authority (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the Strategic Health Authority in Lancashire.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally and can be obtained from Lancashire County Council.

Tattoos

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many surgical procedures to remove unwanted tattoos on (a) women and (b) men have been carried out by the NHS in each year since 2000.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally. Information on finished consultant episodes in national health service hospitals in England for the treatment of disorders relating to tattoo pigmentation and skin lesions from 200001 to 200203 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Sex 
			  Female Male Total 
		
		
			 200001 78 70 148 
			 200102 73 70 143 
			 200203 71 61 132 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, Department of Health.

Treatment Costs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the cost to the NHS of (a) a consultation with a general practitioner and (b) attendance at an accident and emergency department; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The average cost of a general practitioner consultation is published in the Department's Departmental Report. In 200203, the average cost of a GP consultation was 17.
	The average cost an accident and emergency attendance can be calculated from data published in the National Schedule of Reference costs. In 200203, the average cost of an accident and emergency attendance was 77.

Tsar Appointments

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many tsars have been appointed with responsibilities which cover part of the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Eleven appointments have been made to the post of National Clinical Director or its equivalent. Their purpose is to bring front-line leadership to our programmes of service improvement. They have been very successful in contributing to the implementation of national service frameworks and similar national policy initiatives, which have helped to produce significant reductions in deaths from cancer and coronary heart disease.

Waiting Lists/Times

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by primary care trust, the percentage of patients waiting more than six months for elective surgery; and what the national average is.

John Hutton: The national average for patients waiting more than six months for elective surgery is 8.5 per cent. The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Waiting Lists/Times

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Buckinghamshire Health Authority area waited more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months, (f) 18 months and (g) 24 months for (i) heart operations, (ii) cancer treatment and (iii) hip replacements in each year since 200102.

Rosie Winterton: Information on waiting times for coronary heart disease (CHD) is collected on a provider basis. The data show that no patients are waiting for CHD treatment at providers in the Buckinghamshire areas. Patients may be waiting at providers outside the Buckinghamshire area.
	Information is not held centrally on hip replacements.
	Data are not held centrally on waiting times for all cancer patients. The national health service cancer plan sets out our strategy to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. Targets were introduced in 2001 of a maximum one month wait from urgent referral to treatment for testicular cancer, acute leukaemia and children's cancers and a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer.
	By 2005, all cancer patients will wait a maximum of one month from diagnosis to treatment and two months from urgent referral for suspected cancer to treatment except for a good clinical reason or through patient choice. Data on achievement of NHS cancer plan waiting times targets are published on the Department's website for strategic health authorities and trusts, at: http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/.

Waiting Lists/Times

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were waiting over 13 weeks for an out-patient appointment in (a) Somerset, (b) South Somerset and (c) Yeovil constituency in each reporting period from 1995 to 2004;
	(2)  how many people were waiting more than (a) three months and (b) six months for in-patient appointments in (i) Somerset, (ii) South Somerset and (iii) Yeovil constituency for each reporting period from 1995 to 2004.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Information for the Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority area, which includes the South Somerset and Yeovil constituency areas, is shown in the tables.
	
		Out-patient waiting times: Provider based
		
			 Quarter  Organisations Patients waiting over 13 weeks 
		
		
			 Q4 199596 RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 930 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 929 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 1 
			 
			 Q4 199697 RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 559 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 1,268 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 1 
			 
			 Q4 199798 RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 843 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 1,216 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 1 
			 
			 Q4 199899 RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 896 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 1,978 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 13 
			 
			 Q4 19992000 RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 1,020 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 2,128 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 0 
			 04 200001 RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 466 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 1,384 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 10 
			 
			 04 200102 5FX Mendip PCT 78 
			  RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 235 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 971 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 10 
			 
			 04 200203 5FX Mendip PCT 0 
			  RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 0 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 2 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 1 
			 
			 Q4 200304 5FW Somerset Coast PCT 0 
			  5FX Mendip PCT 0 
			  5K1 South Somerset PCT 0 
			  5K2 Taunton Deane PCT 0 
			  RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 0 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 0 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 0 
			 
			 Q1 200405 5FW Somerset Coast PCT 64 
			  5FX Mendip PCT 0 
			  5K1 South Somerset PCT 8 
			  5K2 Taunton Deane PCT 0 
			  RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 0 
			  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 348 
			  RH5 Somerset Partnership and Social Care NHS Trust 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08.
	
		Patients waiting for elective admission: Position at month end: Provider based
		
			 Month end Organisation Total patients waiting Patients waiting over 3 months Patients waiting over 6 months 
		
		
			 March 1995 East Somerset NHS Trust 1,423 381 138 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 4,993 1,884 609 
			  
			 March 1996 East Somerset NHS Trust 1,634 421 111 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 4,899 1,507 292 
			  
			 March 1997 East Somerset NHS Trust 2,662 1,025 435 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 6,282 3,001 1,070 
			  
			 March 1998 East Somerset NHS Trust 2,845 1,251 521 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 7,523 3,788 1,691 
			  
			 March 1999 East Somerset NHS Trust 2,489 850 382 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 7,440 3,679 1,759 
			  
			 March 2000 East Somerset NHS Trust 2,061 803 377 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 7,027 3,794 1,793 
			  
			 March 2001 East Somerset NHS Trust 1,943 854 316 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 6,838 3,438 1,399 
			 March 2002 Mendip PCT 25 18 3 
			  East Somerset NHS Trust 1,915 854 406 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 6,838 3,753 1,702 
			   
			 March 2003 Mendip PCT 3 0 0 
			  East Somerset NHS Trust 1,549 441 0 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 5,159 1,897 388 
			  
			 March 2004 Somerset Coast PCT 22 3 0 
			  Mendip PCT 6 0 0 
			  East Somerset NHS Trust 1,389 308 0 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 5,059 1,731 297 
			  
			 August 2004 Somerset Coast PCT 20 0 0 
			  Mendip PCT 11 2 0 
			  East Somerset NHS Trust 1,225 194 1 
			  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 4,732 1,504 272 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health + A14 form KH07 and monthly monitoring.